THE AMATEURS 193 



Mr. Green did not enjoy the journey; he hated 

 smoke and dogs, and had far too much of both, but 

 when the undergraduate on the box took possession of 

 the reins his unhappiness was complete. 



The new driver put the team along at a spanking 

 pace; started downhill at a quick trot, the heavy luggage 

 causing the coach to rock ominously; the trot merged 

 into a canter; the canter broke into a gallop. Mr. 

 Green's fears so wrought on him that he remonstrated 

 with the coachman for suffering "a mere lad," he was 

 about to say, but fortunately checked himself in time — 

 "for suffering anyone else than the regular driver to 

 have the charge of the coach." 



The coachman answered that he knew his duty to 

 himself and his proprietors, and never gave up the 

 ribbons to anyone "but wot had showed hisself fitted to 

 'andle 'em. And I think I may say this for the genelman 

 as has got 'em now, that he's fit to be first whip to the 

 Queen herself, and I'm proud to call him my poople. 

 Why, sir — if his honour here will pardon me for makin' 

 60 free — this 'ere gent is Four-in-Hand Fosbrooke, of 

 which you must have heerd on." 



Mr. Green replied that he had not had that pleasure. 



"Ah! a pleasure you may call it, sir, with perfeft 

 truth," replied the coachman, "but, lor' bless me, sir, 

 weer can you have lived?" 



To add to Mr. Green's discomfort little Mr. Bouncer 

 whiled away the time by producing weird and un- 

 pleasant post-horn effedfs, which he called "sounding his 

 odlaves;" moreover, he destroyed the cheerful airs 

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