Over the Mendips. 61 



cobwebs which a week's severe sectionizing at the Parlia- 

 ment of Science may weave in the commonplace brain. 

 It will be a long day, no doubt, but the longest day must 

 have a termination, and the coachman of one of the five 

 breaks that are to take our party a hundred strong from 

 Clifton over the appointed route, lessens the difficulty by 

 appearing just an hour later than he had any business to do. 

 A brave show our procession of four-in-hands makes as 

 it clatters through the narrow streets of Bristol. The shop 

 boys and girls, glad of the excuse for leaving their work, 

 rush to the doors and windows ; passers-by of all grades 

 stop short on the pavement and gaze at us with wonder 

 and envy ; the cart and waggon drivers somehow do their 

 best to hinder our progress and block our path; and the 

 sky attempts to frighten us, by assuming a most threatening 

 countenance. But at last we are through Temple meads, on 

 the right side of Hill's bridge, and passing the neighbour- 

 hood to which, according to a Weal historian, Chatterton 

 referred in 



" The cits walked out to Arno's dusty vale, 

 To take a snack of politics and ale." 



What a charming treat is a real country drive ! Dog-cart, 

 four-wheeled basket-chaise, pony-gig, or even donkey-cart, 

 comes now and then as a welcome relief to the prosaic 

 railway train; but what shall be said of the four-in-hand 

 when you have secured a box seat at the driver's elbow ? 

 It furnishes you with mental eye-glasses that conceal defects 

 and magnify delights ; by its aid every wretched hamlet is 

 " Sweet Auburn, smiling village of the plain ! " every pros- 

 pect pleases, and not even man is vile, except the chuckle- 

 headed wainster who will not keep his own side of the 

 road. 



The coachman at first has enough to do to pilot his team 



