238 THE COACHING ERA 



"Perhaps the impending hoHday might have given 

 a more than usual animation to the country, for it 

 seemed to me as if everybody was in good spirits. Game, 

 poultry, and other luxuries of the table, were in brisk 

 circulation in the villages; the grocers', butchers', and 

 fruiterers' shops were thronged with customers. The 

 housewives were stirring briskly about, putting their 

 dwellings in order; and the glossy branches of holly, 

 with their bright berries, began to appear at the 

 windows. . . . 



"I was roused from this fit of luxurious meditation 

 by a shout from my little travelling companions. They 

 had been looking out of the coach windows for the 

 last few m'les, recognizing every tree and cottage as 

 they approached home, and now there was a general 

 outburst of joy — 'There's John; and there's old Carlo! 

 and there's Bantam!' cried the happy little rogues, 

 clapping their hands. 



"At the end of the lane there was an old sober- 

 looking servant in livery, waiting for them; he was 

 accompanied by a superannuated pointer, and by the 

 redoubtable Bantam, a little old rat of a pony, with a 

 shaggy mane and long rusty tail, who stood dozing 

 quietly by the roadside, little dreaming of the bustling 

 time that awaited him. 



"I was pleased to see the fondness with which the 

 little fellows leaped upon the steady old footman, and 

 hugged the pointer, who wriggled his whole body for 

 joy. But Bantam was the great objeft of interest; all 

 wanted to mount at once, and it was with some diffi- 

 culty that John arranged that they should ride by turns, 

 and the eldest should ride first. 



"Off they set at last; one on the pony, with the dog 

 bounding and barking before him, and the others 

 holding John's hands; both talking at once, and over- 



