92 STAGE-COACH AND MAIL IN DAYS OF YORE 



It is the yoiini^' squire of Hornby Grange, on 

 tlie rii^'lit hand, avc arc tohl, Avho is anxious 

 to graduate in coaching honours, and to be 

 mentioned in the pages of the Spurting Magazine 

 by Ninirod, in comjoany Avith Sir St. Vincent 

 Cotton, the Brackenburys, and other distinguished 

 ornaments of the bench. 



" 'Afternoon, squire," says Layfiehl, as that 

 young sportsman swings into the seat beside him ; 

 and they talk guardedly al)out anything and 

 evervthins: but coaches, until Lavlield asks— as 

 though it had just occurred to him — if he would 

 not like to " put 'em along " for a few miles. 

 He accepts, and is just about to take the reins 

 over when the voice of a hitherto silent gentleman 

 is heard from behind. 



" I earnestly protest, coachman," he says, 

 " against your giving the reins into the hands of 

 that young gentleman, and endangering our lives. 

 I appeal to the other passengers to support me," 

 he continues, glancing round. " We read in the 

 papers every day of the many serious, and some 

 fatal, accidents caused by control of the horses 

 being given to unqualified persons. If you are 

 well advised, young gentleman, yon will relinquish 

 the reins into their proper kee2)ing ; and you, 

 coachman, ought to know, and do know, that you 

 Avould l)e liable to a fine of any amount from £5 

 to £10, at the discretion of a magistrate, for 

 alloAving an unauthorised person to driAe." 



The coachman takes back the reins, aiul sulkily 

 says he didn't know he had an informer uj) ; to 



