with you
in your curricle, but you have never offered to take me; I presume you
think that I am too old."

"Indeed, Mrs Rainscourt, if I had thought that you would have ventured,
Emily would not so often have been seated at my side. If not too late,
and you will pardon my negligence, oblige me by permitting me to drive
you now."

"I don't know whether I ought to do so; but as married ladies have been,
from time immemorial, forced from the field by their daughters, I
believe I shall submit to the affront, and accept your offer."

"I feel much flattered," replied he, "by your kind acquiescence; but you
must allow me to desire my grooms to take these horses out, and put the
others to, which are much quieter. It will be a delay of only a few
minutes."

Mrs Rainscourt smiled, and quitted the room, to prepare for her
excursion, while Rainscourt descended to the street door.

"William, drive to the stables; take these horses out, and put in the
two others."

"The others, sir," replied the man with surprise; "what! Smolensko and
Pony-towsky?"

"Yes--be smart, and bring them round as soon as you can."

"Why, sir, the two young 'uns have never been in together yet--
Smolensko's but a rum customer, when aside of a steady horse; and as for
Pony-towsky, he jibs just as bad as ever."

"Never mind--put them in and bring them round."

"Then I'd better tie up the dog, sir, for they can't neither of them
abide him."

"Never mind--they must be accustomed to him--so let the dog follow as
usual. Be quick;" and Rainscourt returned to the house.

"Sam, I can't for the life of me fancy what master's at today," said
William, who had delivered his horse over to the other groom, and had
mounted the curricle to drive it to the stable. "If he means to drive
them two devils together, there's no road in England wide enough for
him."

"I'm sure I can't tell," replied the other.

"No man in his senses would do it--unless, indeed, he's going to drive
his wife."

"Why, hardly that, for they say he wants to marry her again."

"Marry his wife again--no, no, Bill: master's too wide awake for that."

The curricle re-appeared at the door--Rainscourt handed in his wife, and
the horses set off tightly reined by Rainscourt, and flying to and fro
from the pole, so as to alarm Mrs Rainscourt, who expressed a wish to
alight.

"They are only fresh at first starting, my dear--they will be quiet
directly."

"Look there!" observed one o