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CHAPTER VI.

"Now hey for Down Hall!

The chariot was mounted, the horses did trot."

""Tis done-he steps into the welcome chaise,

Lolls at his ease; he hired four handsome bays,
That whirl away from business

"Into an old inn did this equipage roll

PRIOR.

COWPER.

And thus with great friendship and glee they went on

To find out the place you shall hear of anon."

PRIOR.

"Here let me ever dwell

From cares, from business."

LANSDOWNE.

BRIGHT was that long-wished-for morning, on which the trio with nimble foot stepped

into the handsome chariot which was to convey them to their country seat, but not brighter than the heart of each which now veritably bounded with delight. Like the daughter of Herodias, Mrs. Inglis had triumphed over the foolish prejudices of her parent, and henceforth it was decreed that all letters, parcels, packages, or any such thing should be addressed to Gideon Clynchiere, Esq., Elleringay Manor.

No precautions had been omitted in order that the new family might enter upon their territorial possessions in a manner compatible with their standing; indeed it was resolved to do so with some degree of éclat, and they ab initio resolved to hold up their heads. Their journey, by prior arrangement, was to be performed by easy and comfortable stages, and to prevent the inconvenient chance of entering the village in the dark, it was agreed that they should travel slowly, and sleep one night on the road. That worldliness of which Mr. Inglis ever boasted, gave the suggestion that much depended on first impressions. He

deemed it expedient that the yellow chariot should aristocratically roll into Elleringay in the full fair light of broad and open day, as he inwardly felt convinced their dashing equipage would carry with it considerable respect. It may be Mr. Inglis over-rated the influence of the yellow carriage; but it being the first time he had ever sat in such a vehicle, it is tenable to suppose he would take a magnified view of its splendour and effects.

Before that giant monster steam, which now threatens to revolutionize everything and everybody, had destroyed all those oldfashioned and pleasurable associations connected with English travelling, it was pleasant as well as dignified to leisurely post from one stage to another. In those days there was a greater amount of independence, and more distinguishment in the movement in the upper classes. What happy and commodious homes for weary way-farers were those great hostleries, which at convenient intervals invitingly stood by the way side of every main road in the kingdom.

How the travellers' eye was gladdened as they rose looming on the sight, and what luxuries and hospitalities were obtainable within! The spacious stone-paved entrance hall, long passages, suites of rooms, postboys booted and spurred, and horses saddled, always ready by night as well as by daythe loungers about the front door, and whenever a coach or a carriage drew up, how the anxious group assembled to have a word with burly, broad-backed, good-natured guard, whose scarlet coat at half a mile distant proclaimed the royal mail—or to feast their eyes upon a living lord. How all these are imaged to the memory, and we exclaim such belonged to days gone by! aye, and we would almost give for them in return all the advantages of locomotives and telegraphs, with all their hissing and smoke, and lightning communications.

To now visit some of the once busy and fashionable provincial towns, the sombre feelings of a regretful melancholy are unavoidably produced. Loneliness and desolation breathe over those ancient places the

breath of degeneracy and decline. The streets are less lively than of yore, the rough pavements seldom now rattle the capacious vehicles of the rural aristocracy, the shops present little semblance of vitality, and the great inns once exulting in the cognomens of Royal Georges, Crowns, Kings' Heads, and so forth, have under the humiliating influence of steam, been converted into shops, manufactories, or private domiciles. The timeand-space-devouring train whirls every body past as if every body were going to the metropolis, or to some Manchester or Liverpool, which in the spirit of commercial enterprise and lucre-loving worship have sprung into gigantic importance, outdistancing by all comparison those previously genteel provincial capitals, where now the grass grows in their once favoured places, and which are as antiquated and as much out of vogue as any obscure country squire in his buckskins, frilled shirt, and knotted quieue.

To return to the yellow chariot and the charioteers. After divers changes the

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