| 101 | 102 | 103 | 104 | 105 |
| 1 | 133 | 265 | 398 | 530 |
|
occasion to alight; but they had not; and it is often an ill-natured
circumstance like this, which spoils the most ingenious estimate in
the world.
Kit walked about, now with quick steps and now with slow; now
lingering as some rider slackened his horse's pace and looked about
him; and now darting at full speed up a bye-street as he caught a
glimpse of some distant horseman going lazily up the shady side of the
road, and promising to stop, at every door. But on they all went, one
after another, and there was not a penny stirring. 'I wonder,' thought
the boy, 'if one of these gentlemen knew there was nothing in the
cupboard at home, whether he'd stop on purpose, and make believe
that he wanted to call somewhere, that I might earn a trifle?'
He was quite tired out with pacing the streets, to say nothing of
repeated disappointments, and was sitting down upon a step to rest,
when there approached towards him a little clattering jingling four-
wheeled chaise' drawn by a little obstinate-looking rough-coated pony,
and driven by a little fat placid-faced old gentleman. Beside the little
old gentleman sat a little old lady, plump and placid like himself, and
the pony was coming along at his own pace and doing exactly as he
pleased with the whole concern. If the old gentleman remonstrated by
shaking the reins, the pony replied by shaking his head. It was plain
that the utmost the pony would consent to do, was to go in his own
way up any street that the old gentleman particularly wished to
traverse, but that it was an understanding between them that he
must do this after his own fashion or not at all.
As they passed where he sat, Kit looked so wistfully at the little turn-
out, that the old gentleman looked at him. Kit rising and putting his
hand to his hat, the old gentleman intimated to the pony that he
wished to stop, to which proposal the pony (who seldom objected to
that part of his duty) graciously acceded.
'
I beg your pardon, sir,' said Kit. 'I'm sorry you stopped, sir. I only
meant did you want your horse minded.'
'
'
I'm going to get down in the next street,' returned the old gentleman.
If you like to come on after us, you may have the job.'
Kit thanked him, and joyfully obeyed. The pony ran off at a sharp
angle to inspect a lamp-post on the opposite side of the way, and then
went off at a tangent to another lamp-post on the other side. Having
satisfied himself that they were of the same pattern and materials, he
came to a stop apparently absorbed in meditation. 'Will you go on, sir,'
said the old gentleman, gravely, 'or are we to wait here for you till it's
too late for our appointment?'
Page
Quick Jump
|