PATRON 87 



affair. I replied in the affirmative, and added that the 

 other man would return in a day or two. 



" Indeed ! " he exclaimed. " It is my desh'e that you 

 retain your seat, and let no one put you off. He has 

 left without acquainting me, and he does not return." 



" Very well, sir," said I, pleased at being thus 

 reassured. 



" When you have settled your bill, come into the 

 coffee-room." 



An invitation I was very glad to accept. 



In the meantime a o-entlemau, who with his two 

 daughters occupied the inside, and who I thought would 

 take exception at the very awkward display I had made 

 at Kingsland (where he sat very quiet, merely asking 

 what was the matter), on paying me more than double 

 the usual fee, much to my surprise complimented me on 

 the nerve and presence of mind I possessed, and, wishing 

 me good-night, walked with his companions towards the 

 hackney coach the porter had called for him. 



It was with niucli pleasure I afterwards renewed my 

 acquaintance with this gentleman, Avho up to the time 

 of his death was one of my most frequent as well as 

 my most liberal patrons. He invariably, winter and 

 summer, took an inside place ; but if the weather were 

 at all fine he would ask to sit beside me, and I always 

 felt happy to have for my companion on the box a 

 person "w^ho would converse with me, and therefore took 

 some little trouble to preserve the seat for him. His 

 manner to me at all times was affable and kind in the 

 extreme, and I could venture an opinion on any subject 

 without fear of o-iving- offence — althouo;h 1 remember at 



