GUINEA-PIGS 175 



coach, tlie "Nelson." There had been as yet no stoppages 

 on that line of road ; still the journey was most tedious, 

 even for those times ; Avhile, to relieve the weariness, I 

 once or twice o'ot out, thinkino- to divert mvself with 

 driving ; but, what with slippery roads, bad cattle, and 

 worse tackle, I could make no hand of it, and was glad 

 to get inside again, to preserve myself from the bitter, 

 biting atmosphere. 



Arrivino- at the " Cock,"' at Eaton, a laro-e coach and 

 posting-house, our hrst coachman left us ; and the guard, 

 giving the way-bill to the proprietor, informed him who 

 we were, when he became very attentive and courteous 

 to us. 



In those times the London man was held in o-reat 

 estimation by the country proprietors ; and so far had 

 this feeling been carried bv my fathers predecessor, that 

 he was almost worshipped by them. This arose chiefly 

 from his gentlemanlv manners and good principles, so 

 Avidely different from the low cunning and paltry means 

 that were afterwards practised. 



Now, the guard had taken up two soldiers on the road, 

 and from o-ood feelino- as I thouo-ht, had, not lono- before 

 we stopped, put them into the hind boot, and covered 

 them up — the boots in those times being made very 

 spacious, and opening at the top. 



On comino- out from the house, where we had taken 

 some refreshment, the proprietor took his leave of us ; 

 and his notice being attracted to the hind boot, he called 

 the guard, and asked him 'svhat he had got there. 



" Only a couple of guinea-pigs, sir," said the guard 

 very innocently, not observing the leakage that had caused 



