e bent half round, so that
they looked towards the side, or even almost behind them as they went.
An English acquaintance to whom Godfrey expressed his surprise the
first time he saw one of these sledges replied, "Yes, that is the old
Russian pattern; and, curiously enough, if you look at Greek bas-reliefs
and sculptures of the chariot of Phoebus, or at any other
representations of chariots with three or four horses, you will see that
the animals outside turn their heads in a similar manner."

"But it must be horribly uncomfortable for the horses to have their
heads turned round like that."

"It is the effect of training. They are always tied up to the stables
with their heads pulled in that way, until it becomes a second nature to
go with them in that position."

"It is a very curious idea," Godfrey said, "but it certainly looks nice.
What magnificent beards all the drivers in the good sledges have!"

"Yes, that again is an old Russian custom. A driver with a big beard is
considered an absolute necessity for a well-appointed turn-out, and the
longer and fuller the beard the higher the wages a man will command and
the greater the pride of his employer."

"It seems silly," Godfrey said. "But there is no doubt those fellows do
look wonderfully imposing with their fur caps and their long blue
caftans and red sashes and those splendid beards. They remind me of
pictures of Neptune. Certainly I never saw such beards in England."

Besides these vehicles there were crowds of public sledges, driven by
the Isvostchiks, long rough country sledges laden perhaps with a dozen
peasant women returning from market, light well-got-up vehicles of
English and other merchants, dashing turn-outs carrying an officer or
two of high rank, and others filled with ladies half buried in rich
furs. The air was tremulous with the music of countless bells, and
broken by the loud cracking of whips, with which the faster vehicles
heralded their approach. These whips had short handles, but very long
heavy thongs; and Godfrey observed that, however loud he might crack
this weapon, it was very seldom indeed that a Russian driver ever
struck one of his horses with it.

Sometimes when Ivan Petrovytch told him that there was little to be done
in the office, and that he need not return for an hour or two, Godfrey
would stroll into the Isaac or Kasan cathedrals, both splendid
structures, and wonder at the taste that marred their effect, by the
profusion