thought that the proprietors ought only to
'ire men upon whose civility they could depend. Then she launched
out into larger topics--said she thought that the _H_emperor of
_H_austria--(here I endeavoured to interrupt her by asking whether
she had any idea of the part of Hampstead she would like; but she
would complete her remarks by saying)--must be as 'appy as the days
are long, now that the _H_empress had presented him with a _hare_ to
the throne! (Some of the passengers smiled, and turning round,
looked out of the windows.)

I much wished for our arrival at the spot where we should alight,
for she commenced a story about an 'andsome young nephew of hers,
who was a distinguished _h_officer of the _h_army. This was
suggested to her, no doubt, by the presence in the omnibus of a
fine-looking young fellow with a moustache. She said that at present
her nephew was stationed in _h_ireland; but he expected soon to be
_h_ordered to South _H_africa.

The gentleman with the moustache seemed much amused, and smilingly
asked her whether her nephew was at all _h_ambitious? I saw that he
(the gentleman with the moustache) was jesting, and I would have
given anything to have been released from the unpleasant predicament
I was in. But what was more annoyance when Mrs. H. proceeded to say
to this youth, whose face was radiant with humour, that it was the
'ight of her nephew's _h_ambition to serve his country in the _h_our
of need; and then she proceeded to ask her fellow-traveller his
opinion, of the _h_upshot of the war--remarking that she 'oped it
would soon be _h_over!

At this moment I felt so nervous that I pulled out my handkerchief,
and endeavoured to create a diversion by making a loud nasal noise,
and remarking that I thought the wind very cold, when an accident
happened which took us all by surprise: one of the large wheels of
the minibus dropped off, and all the passeigers were jostled down
into a corner but, fortunately without serious injury. Mrs. H.,
however, happening to be under three or four persons, raised a loud
cry for "'elp! 'elp!" She was speedily got out, when she assured us
that she was not 'urt; but she was in such a state of _h_agitation
that she wished to be taken to a chemist's shop, to get some
_h_aromatic vinegar, or some _Hoe_ de Cologne! The chemist was