r orderly formation once more and
calmly led us away.

Perhaps the most amusing phase of him was his opposition to and contempt
for inefficiency of any kind. If he asked you to do anything, no matter
what, and you didn't at once leap to the task ready and willing and able
so to do, he scarcely had words enough with which to express himself. On
one occasion, as I recall all too well, he took us for a drive in his
tally-ho--one or two or three that he possessed--a great lumbering,
highly lacquered, yellow-wheeled vehicle, to which he attached seven or
eight or nine horses, I forget which. This tally-ho ride was a regular
Sunday morning or afternoon affair unless it was raining, a call
suddenly sounding from about the grounds somewhere at eleven or at two
in the afternoon, "Tally-ho at eleven-thirty" (or two-thirty, as the
case might be). "All aboard!" Gathering all the reins in his hands and
perching himself in the high seat above, with perhaps one of his guests
beside him, all the rest crowded willy-nilly on the seats within and on
top, he would carry us off, careening about the countryside most madly,
several of his hostlers acting as liveried footmen or outriders and one
of them perched up behind on the little seat, the technical name of
which I have forgotten, waving and blowing the long silver trumpet, the
regulation blasts on which had to be exactly as made and provided for
such occasions. Often, having been given no warning as to just when it
was to be, there would be a mad scramble to get into our _de rigueur_
Sunday clothes, for Culhane would not endure any flaws in our
appearance, and if we were not ready and waiting when one of his
stablemen swung the vehicle up to the door at the appointed time he was
absolutely furious.

On the particular occasion I have in mind we all clambered on in good
time, all spick and span and in our very best, shaved, powdered, hands
appropriately gloved, our whiskers curled and parted, our shoes shined,
our hats brushed; and up in front was Culhane, gentleman de luxe for the
occasion, his long-tailed whip looped exactly as it should be, no doubt,
ready to be flicked out over the farthest horse's head, and up behind
was the trumpeter--high hat, yellow-topped boots, a uniform of some
grand color, I forget which.

But, as it turned out on this occasion, there had been a hitch at the
last minute. The regular hostler or stableman who acted as footman
extraordinary and trumpeter plenip