DOWN THE ROAD IN DAYS OF YORE 73 



oj^inioiis among the compilers of road-books. But 

 AAlietlier called Arring'ton or Harrington, it is a 

 pretty, retired sjiot, Avitli a handsome inn and an 

 equally handsome row of houses opposite. 



"Will you i^lease to alight ? " asks the stately 

 landlady of the " Ilardwicke Arms" inn and 

 2^osting-house, with jierhaps a little too much air 

 of condescension toAvards us, as coacli-2:)assengers. 

 We of the stage-coaches — nay, CA'en those of the 

 mails — occuj^y only a second place in the con- 

 sideration of mine host and hostess of this, one 

 of the finest inns on the road. Their j)osting 

 business brings them some very free-handed cus- 

 tomers, and their position, hard by my lord of 

 Hardwicke's grand seat of Wimpole, spoils them 

 for mere ordinary CA'eryday folks. 



HoAvever, it is noAV more than half-past scA'cn 

 o'clock, and Ave liaAC had no bite nor sup since 

 two. Tlierefore Ave alight at the landlady's bidding 

 and hasten into the inn, to make as good a supper 

 as possible in the twenty minutes alloAved. 



Half a crown each, in all conscience, for tAA^o 

 cups of tea, and some bread and butter, cold 

 ham and eggs ! We climb up to our places, 

 dissatisfied. Soon the quiet spot falls aAvay behind, 

 as our horses get into their stride ; and as Ave 

 leave, so does a yelloAV po'shay dash up, and 

 convert the apparently sleepy knot of smocked 

 post-boys and shirt-slecA^ed ostlers, Avho have 

 been lounging al)out the stable entrance, into 

 a very alert and Avide-aAvake throng. 



Caxton, a busy thoroughfare village, where the 



