his ears. Smart, who had been lost in thought for some time,
never dreaming that Dick could reach so far with a whip which, on this
particular journey, had never been extended further than his flank,
tossed his head, and scampered along with exceeding briskness, which was
very pleasant to the young couple behind him till, turning a bend in the
road, they came instantly upon the farmer, farmer's man, and farmer's
wife with the flapping mantle, all jogging on just the same as ever.

"Bother those people! Here we are upon them again."

"Well, of course. They have as much right to the road as we."

"Yes, but it is provoking to be overlooked so. I like a road all to
myself. Look what a lumbering affair theirs is!" The wheels of the
farmer's cart, just at that moment, jogged into a depression running
across the road, giving the cart a twist, whereupon all three nodded to
the left, and on coming out of it all three nodded to the right, and went
on jerking their backs in and out as usual. "We'll pass them when the
road gets wider."

When an opportunity seemed to offer itself for carrying this intention
into effect, they heard light flying wheels behind, and on their
quartering there whizzed along past them a brand-new gig, so brightly
polished that the spokes of the wheels sent forth a continual quivering
light at one point in their circle, and all the panels glared like
mirrors in Dick and Fancy's eyes. The driver, and owner as it appeared,
was really a handsome man; his companion was Shiner. Both turned round
as they passed Dick and Fancy, and stared with bold admiration in her
face till they were obliged to attend to the operation of passing the
farmer. Dick glanced for an instant at Fancy while she was undergoing
their scrutiny; then returned to his driving with rather a sad
countenance.

"Why are you so silent?" she said, after a while, with real concern.

"Nothing."

"Yes, it is, Dick. I couldn't help those people passing."

"I know that."

"You look offended with me. What have I done?"

"I can't tell without offending you."

"Better out."

"Well," said Dick, who seemed longing to tell, even at the risk of
offending her, "I was thinking how different you in love are from me in
love. Whilst those men were staring, you dismissed me from your thoughts
altogether, and--"

"You can't offend me further now; tell all!"

"And showed upon your face a pleased sense of being attractive to 'em."

"Don