10 A FAIR DRIVER 



deo-ree of interest that would sometimes create a feelino- 

 I thought buried in the grave. This, however, Avas only 

 transient, though I recollect one fair creature made a 

 little deeper impression on my memory than usual, by a 

 request to be allowed to add to the accomjDlishments she 

 already possessed, that of driving four horses. There 

 was such a novelty in this position, so much naivete in 

 her manner of expressing it — it, too, was accompanied by 

 so sweet a smile, and was so earnest an appeal to my 

 gallantry, that it completely surmounted all the scruples 

 and objections I could entertain. I instantly gave her 

 the reins, and sat by her side, she taking my seat while 

 she drove one entire stage, and acquitted herself with 

 good execution and judgment, as much to my surprise as 

 her own satisfaction and delight. 



Another of my frequent and most j)leasant companions 

 from Mesopotamia, as I have termed those two delightful 

 places, Warwick and Leamington, Avas a man who still 

 lives in the memory of my readers, and whose fame has 

 been recorded by far more able pens than mine. He 

 was domiciled then at the latter place, and being at the 

 same time the lessee of the Olympic, was frequently 

 backward and forward. I had some slight knowledge of 

 him before, having met him at a dinner-party in London, 

 consisting chiefly of theatricals. At our first interview 

 on the coach-box he recognized me, and expressed 

 himself glad to renew the acquaintance ; and his con- 

 versation teeming with anecdotes of authors and actors 

 of his time, his harmless satire and his turn of mimicry 

 and ridicule, made his company at all times agreeable. 

 The gratification he professed to have in my society made 



