134 STAGES 



and that our mutual friend, the brewer, had referred him 

 to me, to learn whetlier I should like to drive from 

 London to Cambridge and back. 



"You know, boy," said he, "there is old Jack Thoro- 

 good drives from Norwich to London — that's 116 miles 

 every day ; and there's old friend Bob Snow ^ drives 

 from London to Brighton and back in a day." 



" Yes," added I, " and there's Sam Goodman does the 

 same." 



" Then why not you and I, boy ? " inquired he. 



Now, I knew very well that if I consented the thing 

 would be done ; but as such an arrangement would dis- 

 place the man who drove the opposite day from Ely, I 

 demurred — though in therestof the journey up, I thought 

 a great deal about it. 



In the first place I had had enough of the Fens ; my 

 family was on the increase, my wife's health was not very 

 good, and she Avas a long way from her friends at St. 

 Albans, as I was from my native Hampshire. I therefore 

 concluded that such an alteration would be very beneficial, 

 as I should have but one home, and a double benefit every 

 day. 



Consequently, on my return to Ely, I on the following 

 morning waited on my friend the brewer ; and, on my 

 broaching the subject, he readily fell in with my idea. I 

 named to him the only obstacle in the way of such an 

 arrangement, and pointed out to him the way in which it 

 might be removed without injury to the individual, and, 

 therefore, with satisfaction to myself; this was, to use his 



This celebrated performer on the " Brighton Dart " had hereto- 

 fore driven the Lynn. 



