398 THE COACHING AGE. 



celebrated, so that the house was open and the inmates, 

 were up. The lady was taken out of the coach and 

 carried into the inn, together with a little stranger, 

 who had come part of the journey, and had not been 

 booked when the coach left Exeter. The presence- 

 of the medical student was most opportune, and he at 

 once attended to the lady. Another difficulty, however, 

 arose : the three large boxes which were on the roof,, 

 and under the other luggage, were to be taken off. 

 In order to effect this it was necessary for the 

 passengers to get down. This being accomplished, 

 and the coach loaded again, it proceeded on its 

 journey, arriving in London two hours after its time. 

 When it was driven into the yard a gentleman was 

 there, who looked inside the coach, evidently ex- 

 pecting to meet some one ; but not succeeding he 

 made inquiry of the guard, who said if he would 

 wait in the coffee-room he would go to him as soon 

 as the coach was unloaded, which he did, and related 

 the event that occurred on the journey, at which 

 he expressed his surprise; but he went down by 

 the earliest means available to Deptford Inn. On 

 his next journey up, a long list of articles required 

 .was given to the guard, together with a ten-pound 

 note to pay for them ; and on a subsequent journey 

 a similar commission was given to him. 



The lady and gentleman remained at the inn 



