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walking home to the old town； stay some time with my mother and my
brother； and enjoy the pleasant walks in the neighbourhood； but；
though I wished very much to see my mother and my brother； and felt
much disposed to enjoy the said pleasant walks； the old town was
not exactly the place to which I wished to go at this present
juncture。 I was afraid that people would ask； Where are your
Northern Ballads？ Where are your alliterative translations from Ab
Gwilym … of which you were always talking； and with which you
promised to astonish the world？ Now； in the event of such
interrogations； what could I answer？ It is true I had compiled
NEWGATE LIVES AND TRIALS； and had written the life of Joseph Sell；
but I was afraid that the people of the old town would scarcely
consider these as equivalents for the Northern Ballads and the
songs of Ab Gwilym。 I would go forth and wander in any direction
but that of the old town。
But how one's sensibility on any particular point diminishes with
time； at present I enter the old town perfectly indifferent as to
what the people may be thinking on the subject of the songs and
ballads。 With respect to the people themselves； whether； like my
sensibility； their curiosity has altogether evaporated； whether；
which is at least equally probable； they never entertained any； one
thing is certain； that never in a single instance have they
troubled me with any remarks on the subject of the songs and
ballads。
As it was my intention to travel on foot； with a bundle and a
stick； I despatched my trunk containing some few clothes and books
to the old town。 My preparations were soon made； in about three
days I was in readiness to start。
Before departing； however； I bethought me of my old friend the
apple…woman of London Bridge。 Apprehensive that she might be
labouring under the difficulties of poverty； I sent her a piece of
gold by the hands of a young maiden in the house in which I lived。
The latter punctually executed her commission； but brought me back
the piece of gold。 The old woman would not take it； she did not
want it； she said。 'Tell the poor thin lad；' she added； 'to keep
it for himself； he wants it more than I。'
Rather late one afternoon I departed from my lodging； with my stick
in one hand and a small bundle in the other； shaping my course to
the south…west： when I first arrived； somewhat more than a year
before； I had entered the city by the north…east。 As I was not
going home； I determined to take my departure in the direction the
very opposite to home。
Just as I was about to cross the street called the Haymarket； at
the lower part； a cabriolet； drawn by a magnificent animal； came
dashing along at a furious rate； it stopped close by the curb…stone
where I was； a sudden pull of the reins nearly bringing the
spirited animal upon its haunches。 The Jehu who had accomplished
this feat was Francis Ardry。 A small beautiful female； with
flashing eyes； dressed in the extremity of fashion； sat beside him。
'Holloa； friend；' said Francis Ardry； 'whither bound？'
'I do not know；' said I； 'all I can say is； that I am about to
leave London。'
'And the means？' said Francis Ardry。
'I have them；' said I； with a cheerful smile。
'Qui est celui…ci？' demanded the small female； impatiently。
'C'est … mon ami le plus intime； so you were about to leave London；
without telling me a word；' said Francis Ardry； somewhat angrily。
'I intended to have written to you；' said I： 'what a splendid mare
that is。'
'Is she not？' said Francis Ardry； who was holding in the mare with
difficulty； 'she cost a hundred guineas。'
'Qu'est ce qu'il dit？' demanded his companion。
'Il dit que le jument est bien beau。'
'Allons； mon ami； il est tard；' said the beauty； with a scornful
toss of her head； 'allons！'
'Encore un moment；' said Francis Ardry； 'and when shall I see you
again？'
'I scarcely know；' I replied： 'I never saw a more splendid turn
out。'
'Qu'est ce qu'il dit？' I said the lady again。
'Il dit que tout l'equipage est en assez bon gout。'
'Allons； c'est un ours；' said the lady； 'le cheval meme en a peur；'
added she； as the mare reared up on high。
'Can you find nothing else to admire but the mare and the
equipage？' said Francis Ardry； reproachfully； after he had with
some difficulty brought the mare to order。
Lifting my hand； in which I held my stick； I took off my hat。 'How
beautiful！' said I； looking the lady full in the face。
'Comment？' said the lady； inquiringly。
'Il dit que vous etes belle comme un ange；' said Francis Ardry；
emphatically。
'Mais； a la bonne heure！ arretez； mon ami；' said the lady to
Francis Ardry； who was about to drive off； 'je voudrais bien causer
un moment avec lui； arretez； il est delicieux。 … Est…ce bien ainsi
que vous traitez vos amis？' said she passionately； as Francis Ardry
lifted up his whip。 'Bon jour； Monsieur； bon jour；' said she；
thrusting her head from the side and looking back； as Francis Ardry
drove off at the rate of thirteen miles an hour。
CHAPTER LIX
The milestone … The meditation … Want to get up？ … The off…hand
leader … Sixteen shillings … The near…hand wheeler … All right。
IN about two hours I had cleared the Great City； and got beyond the
suburban villages； or rather towns； in the direction in which I was
travelling； I was in a broad and excellent road； leading I knew not
whither。 I now slackened my pace； which had hitherto been great。
Presently； coming to a milestone on which was graven nine miles； I
rested against it； and looking round towards the vast city； which
had long ceased to be visible； I fell into a train of meditation。
I thought of all my ways and doings since the day of my first
arrival in that vast city … I had worked and toiled； and； though I
had accomplished nothing at all commensurate with the hopes which I
had entertained previous to my arrival； I had achieved my own
living； preserved my independence； and become indebted to no one。
I was now quitting it； poor in purse； it is true； but not wholly
empty； rather ailing it may be； but not broken in health； and； with
hope within my bosom； had I not cause upon the whole to be
thankful？ Perhaps there were some who； arriving at the same time
under not more favourable circumstances； had accomplished much
more； and whose future was far more hopeful … Good！ But there
might be others who； in spite of all their efforts； had been either
trodden down in the press； never more to be heard of； or were
quitting that mighty town broken in purse； broken in health； and；
oh！ with not one dear hope to cheer them。 Had I not； upon the
whole； abundant cause to be grateful？ Truly； yes！
My meditation over； I left the milestone and proceeded on my way in
the same direction as before until the night began to close in。 I
had always been a good pedestrian； but now； whether owing to
indisposition or to not having for some time past been much in the
habit of taking such lengthy walks； I began to feel not a little
weary。 Just as I was thinking of putting up for the night at the
next inn or public…house I should arrive at； I heard what sounded
like a coach coming up rapidly behind me。 Induced； perhaps； by the
weariness which I felt； I stopped and looked wistfully in the
direction of the sound； presently up came a coach； seemingly a
mail； drawn by four bounding horses … there was no one upon it but
the coachman and the guard； when nearly parallel with me it
stopped。 'Want to get up？' sounded a voice； in the true coachman…
like tone … half querulous； half authoritative。 I hesitated； I was
tired； it is true； but I had left London bound on a pedestrian
excursion； and I did not much like the idea of having recourse to a
coach after accomplishing so very inconsiderable a distance。
'Come； we can't be staying here all night；' said the voice； more
sharply than before。 'I can ride a little way； and get down
whenever I like；' thought I； and springing forward I clambered up
the coach； and was going to sit down upon the box； next the
coachman。 'No； no；' said the coachman； who was a man about thirty；
with a hooked nose and red face； dressed in a fashionably…cut
greatcoat； with a fashionable black castor on his head。 'No； no；
keep behind …the box ain't for the like of you；' said he； as he
drove off； 'the box is for lords； or gentlemen at least。' I made
no answer。 'D… that off…hand leader；' said the coachman； as the
right…hand front horse made a desperate start at something he saw
in the road； and； half rising； he with great dexterity hit with his
long whip the off…hand leader a cut on the off cheek。 'These seem
to be fine horses；' said I。 The coachman made no answer。 'Nearly
thoroughbred；