70 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



inscribed " God bless you both." And what return did 

 she get for this silent, though not less eloquent offering 

 to her grief ? Why, Frank put his head out of the window 

 of the carriage as it passed on, and, schoolboy-like, roared 

 out, " You stupid old fool!" 



The party arrived at the county town just in the nick 

 of time. The horses were being put to the " Balloon," and 

 Wilkins was coming out of the office, with his whip in 

 one hand, his way-bill in the other, and a "Benjamin" 

 thrown over his left arm all evident signs of being quite 

 ready to start. Having walked once round his horses, 

 and examined their coupling reins and curb chains, after 

 the manner of those times, he addressed his young 

 passengers, as they alighted from their father's carriage, 

 with 



" Glad to see you, young gentlemen ; proud of the 

 honour of having you about the coach. Two insides and 

 one out box-seat all right! A beautiful morning. 

 Now, Mr. James (to the footman), be alive with the 

 luggage, if you please ; we are all ready for a start ; and 

 you know we are werry particular at this end, if we can't 

 always be so at t'other." 



" I say, Wilkins," said Frank, " I shall not ride inside 

 after we get out of the town ; I shall come alongside you 

 on the box, and put James inside with my brother." 



"Very good, sir," replied Wilkins, "proud to have you 

 on the box : you'll be one of us, some day or another, 

 Master Francis, I am quite sure ; but, will your papa " 



" Pooh ! " exclaimed Frank, " how will papa know 

 about it?" 



" Not from me, Master Francis," resumed Wilkins, 

 " I never tells no tales ; but you had better not come out 

 till we get through Clifford, for the parson there is almost 

 always at the window when the coach passes by, and he 

 is a tattling old devil ; ten to one he don't slip it out next 

 time he dines at the Abbey. We shall stop to water at 

 the ' Black Dog,' Master Francis, and then you can come 

 on to the box." 



The coach having arrived at the "Black Dog," and the 

 exchange between Francis and the footman having been 

 completed, the following edifying conversation ensued 

 between the master and his pupil : 



" Do you feel yourself comfortable, Master Francis ? " 

 began Mr. Wilkins " never on a coach before, eh ? Here, 



