i8o STAGE-COACH AND MAIL IN BAYS OF YORE 



difference between the inside and the outside 

 passengers : the gentlefolks within were not 

 confounded with the people on the outside. 

 Distinctions Avere then better observed, and 

 preserved. Older stage-coach conversation, he 

 continued, Avas apt to be conducted with caution, 

 for a false opening might make an ill comj)anion 

 on a long journey. So approaches were made 

 skilfully, and with deliberation. A man Avas 

 thought excessively forward and talkative if 

 he had got into politics before he had Avell 

 cleared the outskirts of London, and the first 

 half-hour Avas generally occuj)ied Avith the light 

 skirmishings of talk, Avith reconnoitrings of one's 

 opposite neighbour's countenance, and a variety 

 of all-round questions and ansAvers jiut and 

 returned merely to ascertain how far the j)assengers 

 Avere to be companions. These had to be framed 

 Avitli the utmost discretion. With Avhat Advacity 

 and air of pleasant expectation Avould one then 

 ask an agreeable-looking j^erson, "Are you going 

 all the Avay to Toppington ? " or, on the other 

 hand, if the inside had its full complement of 

 six, hoAV carefully, and AAith Avliat a discreetly 

 modulated voice, in order to avoid all susj)icion 

 of Avishing a speedy riddance, one Avould ask 

 the same question of an unduly stout j^erson, aa^io 

 occupied much more than his or her share of room. 

 The best conversational opening was considered 

 to be, " Well, Ave are noAv off the stones. What a 

 beautiful mornin£r ! Hoav charminn^ the outskirts 

 of toAvn ! Pray, does not that house belong to ? " 



