1 6 THE EXETER ROAD 



apparel, and the language lie made use of, I mistook 

 liim for some enthusiastic bachelor of arts, wishing to 

 become a charioteer after the manner of the illustrious 

 ancients.' 



' You must have been long in foreign j)arts, sir,' 

 observes the proprietor. 



Presently they come to Hyde Park Corner. 

 ' What ! ' exclaims Rip, ' off the stones already ? ' 



' You have never been on the stones,' says a fellow- 

 passenger; 'no stones in London now, sir.' 



The old gentleman is engaged upon digesting this 

 information and does not perceive for some time 

 that the coach is a swift one. When he discovers 

 that fact, and mentions it, he is met with the re- 

 joinder, ' We never go fast over this stage.' 



So they pass through Brentford. ' Old Brentford 

 still here ? ' he exclaims ; ' a national disgrace ! ' Then 

 Hounslow, in five minutes under the hour, ' Wonder- 

 ful travelling, but much too fast to be safe. How- 

 ever, thank Heaven, we are arrived at a good-looking- 

 house ; and now, waiter, I hope you have got 

 breakf ' 



Before the last syllable, however, of the word 

 can be pronounced, the worthy old gentleman's 

 head strikes the back of the coach with a jerk, and 

 the waiter, the inn, and indeed Hounslow itself, dis- 

 appear in the twinkling of an eye. ' My dear sir,' 

 exclaims he, in surprise, ' you told me we were to 

 change horses at Hounslow. Surely they are not 

 so inhuman as to drive those poor animals another 

 stage at this unmerciful rate ! ' 



' Change horses, sir ! ' says the proprietor ; ' why. 



