parding, sir," said a voice, "just a speck left on your coat, sir!"
And the man who had received the shilling for the brushing began to
"ciss" once more.

"That'll do, sir! That's the next 'bus, sir! Good luck to you for a
real gent, sir," he added; and then in a whisper, "Back White Lassie!"

Trevor turned sharply round, just time enough to encounter a most
knowing wink, and the man was gone.

"Dick, I'm afraid that's a trap," said Pratt, gazing after the man.
"Better not bet at all; but if you do, I don't think I should go by what
that fellow says. Well, come along. Eh? what?"

"Consequential-looking old chap in that barouche, I said;" and Trevor
pointed to where a carriage had drawn up by the railway hotel, the owner
having posted down from town--"regular type of the old English
gentleman."

"Now, if we are to get on together, Dick," said Pratt, plaintively,
"don't try to humbug me in that way. Don't hoist false colours."

"Humbug you?--false colours?"

"Yes, humbug me. Now, on your oath, didn't you think more of the two
ladies in the barouche than of the old gentleman?"

"Without being on my oath--yes, I did; for I haven't seen a pretty girl
for three years. Get up first."

"After you," was the response.

And directly after the friends were mounted on the knifeboard of a great
three-horse omnibus, brought down expressly for the occasion.

The vehicle was soon loaded in a way that put its springs to the test,
for the exact licenced number was not studied upon that day. There was
a fair sprinkling of gentlemen, quiet, businesslike professionals, and
decent tradesmen with a taste for sport; but the railway company having
run cheap special trains, London had sent forth a few representative
batches of the fancy, in the shape of canine-featured gentlemen "got up"
expressly for the occasion, with light trousers, spotted neckerchiefs,
velvet coats, and a sign in the breast of their shirt or tie in the
shape of a horseshoe pin. It is impossible to sit in such company
without wondering whether the closely cropped hair was cut at the
expense of the country; and when a quiet, neutral-looking man, sitting
amongst them, accidentally clicks something in his pocket, you may know
all the time that it is the lid of a tobacco-box, or a few halfpence,
but you are certain to think of handcuffs.

You cannot pick your companions on an omnibus bound from a little
country station to the scene of a steeplechase, and R