COACHMEN. 301 



the way down, when a gentleman, who was a regular 

 customer, wanted to return home to Marlborough, and 

 there was no other means of his getting there. Stacey 

 held a council with the book-keeper, observing that 

 it wouldn't do to leave the gentleman behind, as he 

 was a constant customer ; but how they were to get 

 out of the dilemma, neither of them was able to 

 explain. Ultimately, I believe, it was solved by the 

 gentleman himself getting in just as the mail was 

 starting. So off they went from PiccadUly with five 

 inside. A squeeze it must have been, even if they 

 were all small men ; but on this point I have no in- 

 formation, 



: Arrived at the Bear at Maidenhead, where they 

 changed, Stacey went to the coach-door and said : 



' There's time for you to get a cup of coffee here, 

 gentlemen, if you like just to get out.' 



Not one, however, would move, fearful that if once 

 out he might not be able to get in again. In this 

 way, packed about as close as sardines in a box, they 

 travelled down to Newbury, fifty-six miles from Lon- 

 don, and the end of Stacey's journey. They had 

 then, however, seventeen miles to go on to Marl- 

 borough, where the extra passenger resided, and he 

 got out without any expression of regret either on 

 the part of himself or his fellow-passengers ^t the 

 parting. 



