ceeded to demonstrate
the proficiency I was making, by a well-directed blow, which, being
delivered with much greater force than I had intended, sent Coleman
flying across the room. Chancing to encounter Mullins in the course, of
his transit he overturned that worthy against the table in the centre of
the apartment, which, yielding to their combined weight, fell over with
a grand crash, dragging them down with it, in the midst of an avalanche
of books, papers, and inkstands.

This _grand coup_ brought, as might be expected, our lesson to a close
for the day, Coleman declaring that such another hit would inevitably
knock him into the middle of next week, if not farther, and that
he really should not feel ~35~~justified in allowing such a serious
interruption to his studies to take place.

"And now, what are we going to do with ourselves?" asked I; "as this is
a holiday, we ought to do something."

"Are you fond of riding?" inquired Coleman.

"Nothing I like better," replied I; "I have been used to it all my life;
I have had a pony ever since I was four years old."

"I wish I was used to it," said Coleman. "My governor living in London,
I never crossed a horse till I came here, and I'm a regular muff at it;
but I want to learn. What do you say to a ride this afternoon?"

"Just the thing," said I, "if it is not too expensive for my pocket."

"Oh no," replied Coleman; "Snaffles lets horses at as cheap a rate as
any one, and good 'uns to go, too; does not he, Cumberland?"

"Eh, what are you talking about?" said Cumberland, who had just entered
the room; "Snaffles? Oh yes, he's the man for horse flesh. Are you going
to amuse yourself by tumbling off that fat little cob of his again,
Fred?"

"I was thinking of having another try," replied Coleman; "what do you
say, Fairlegh? Never mind the tin; I daresay you have got plenty, and
can get more when that's gone."

"I have got a ten-pound note," answered I; "but that must last me all
this quarter: however, we'll have our ride to-day."

"I'll walk down with you," said Cumberland; "I'm going that way;
besides, it's worth a walk any day to see Coleman mount; it took him ten
minutes the last time I saw him, and then he threw the wrong leg over,
so that he turned his face to the tail."

"_Scandalum magnatum!_ not a true bill," replied Coleman.

"Now, come along, Fairlegh, let's get ready, and be off." During our
walk down to Snaffles' stables Cumberland (who seemed entir