the amusement he had afforded to Miss Vernon in the
morning. I wish you had seen him: his face grew red as scarlet, and he
exclaimed, "Put a side-saddle on 'Units,' and put 'tens of thousands'
on it, and they will be a well-matched pair!" I kept him in a state of
fever the whole time he remained, by threatening to tell the lady the
compliment he paid her. You know the Vernons are connexions of ours,
and that is one reason why they are residing at Violet-Bank now. But I
am sorry they are soon going away: for when Richard Vernon returns
from the West Indies, (and he is expected in two months,) his mother
and sister are going to live with him in London."

These remarks of Felworth served to remove some unpleasant matters
from my mind. I saw that I would experience no rivalry from him; and I
thought myself a match for Flixton if I had but a fair field.

I must confess that the next morning I did entertain serious
apprehensions of the proposed tandem expedition. And, had I been able
to devise any feasible plan of carrying Mrs Russell's advice into
execution, I would eagerly have adopted it. My difficulties, however,
seemed to be removed, as I perceived that the gig was brought to the
door with "Tens" alone in it but vain was my expectation!

"You will please take your seat," said Felworth, "and make yourself
comfortable, and I will follow your example."

We did so. "Units" was now led forward to his place in front by one
man, who held a cloth over his eyes, while another arranged the reins,
and gave them into Felworth's hand. The traces were still unfastened.

"Now we go, Tens, Units! get along!"

At the signal given, the horse made a tremendous plunge forward, while
Felworth, adroitly yielding his hand for the moment, drew him in
firmly but gently, while the two men, running alongside, attached the
traces.

"Strange way 'Units' has of leaving home!" quietly remarked Felworth;
"but he is a peaceable animal after all, for you remark he never kicks
back. And can any thing be more steady than 'Tens?' You would not
depreciate her now."

"Certainly not; a female Socrates is a good companion to that male
Xantippe."

Felworth then went on to say, that the horse was perfectly safe as a
leader; and that, if he was not sure that he was so, he would not
consider himself justified in risking the life of any one. He added
that there were only two things of which he had the least dread;--the
one was, the sudden opening of an um