| 461 | 462 | 463 | 464 | 465 |
| 1 | 133 | 265 | 398 | 530 |
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stood two gentlemen, one of whom she rightly judged to be the notary,
and the other (who was buttoning his great-coat and was evidently
about to depart immediately) Mr Abel Garland.
Having made these observations, the small spy took counsel with
herself, and resolved to wait in the street until Mr Abel came out, as
there would be then no fear of having to speak before Mr Chuckster,
and less difficulty in delivering her message. With this purpose she
slipped out again, and crossing the road, sat down upon a door-step
just opposite.
She had hardly taken this position, when there came dancing up the
street, with his legs all wrong, and his head everywhere by turns, a
pony. This pony had a little phaeton behind him, and a man in it; but
neither man nor phaeton seemed to embarrass him in the least, as he
reared up on his hind legs, or stopped, or went on, or stood still again,
or backed, or went side-ways, without the smallest reference to them -
just as the fancy seized him, and as if he were the freest animal in
creation. When they came to the notary's door, the man called out in a
very respectful manner, 'Woa then' - intimating that if he might
venture to express a wish, it would be that they stopped there. The
pony made a moment's pause; but, as if it occurred to him that to
stop when he was required might be to establish an inconvenient and
dangerous precedent, he immediately started off again, rattled at a
fast trot to the street corner, wheeled round, came back, and then
stopped of his own accord.
'
Oh! you're a precious creatur!' said the man - who didn't venture by
the bye to come out in his true colours until he was safe on the
pavement. 'I wish I had the rewarding of you - I do.'
'
What has he been doing?' said Mr Abel, tying a shawl round his neck
as he came down the steps.
'
He's enough to fret a man's heart out,' replied the hostler. 'He is the
most wicious rascal - Woa then, will you?'
'
He'll never stand still, if you call him names,' said Mr Abel, getting in,
and taking the reins. 'He's a very good fellow if you know how to
manage him. This is the first time he has been out, this long while, for
he has lost his old driver and wouldn't stir for anybody else, till this
morning. The lamps are right, are they? That's well. Be here to take
him to-morrow, if you please. Good night!'
And, after one or two strange plunges, quite of his own invention, the
pony yielded to Mr Abel's mildness, and trotted gently off.
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