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My meditation over； I left the milestone and proceeded on my way in
the same direction as before until the night began to close in。 I
had always been a good pedestrian； but now； whether owing to
indisposition or to not having for some time past been much in the
habit of taking such lengthy walks； I began to feel not a little
weary。 Just as I was thinking of putting up for the night at the
next inn or public…house I should arrive at； I heard what sounded
like a coach coming up rapidly behind me。 Induced； perhaps； by the
weariness which I felt； I stopped and looked wistfully in the
direction of the sound； presently up came a coach； seemingly a
mail； drawn by four bounding horses … there was no one upon it but
the coachman and the guard； when nearly parallel with me it
stopped。 'Want to get up？' sounded a voice； in the true coachman…
like tone … half querulous； half authoritative。 I hesitated； I was
tired； it is true； but I had left London bound on a pedestrian
excursion； and I did not much like the idea of having recourse to a
coach after accomplishing so very inconsiderable a distance。
'Come； we can't be staying here all night；' said the voice； more
sharply than before。 'I can ride a little way； and get down
whenever I like；' thought I； and springing forward I clambered up
the coach； and was going to sit down upon the box； next the
coachman。 'No； no；' said the coachman； who was a man about thirty；
with a hooked nose and red face； dressed in a fashionably…cut
greatcoat； with a fashionable black castor on his head。 'No； no；
keep behind …the box ain't for the like of you；' said he； as he
drove off； 'the box is for lords； or gentlemen at least。' I made
no answer。 'D… that off…hand leader；' said the coachman； as the
right…hand front horse made a desperate start at something he saw
in the road； and； half rising； he with great dexterity hit with his
long whip the off…hand leader a cut on the off cheek。 'These seem
to be fine horses；' said I。 The coachman made no answer。 'Nearly
thoroughbred；' I continued； the coachman drew his breath； with a
kind of hissing sound； through his teeth。 'Come； young fellow；
none of your chaff。 Don't you think； because you ride on my mail；
I'm going to talk to you about 'orses。 I talk to nobody about
'orses except lords。' 'Well；' said I； 'I have been called a lord
in my time。' 'It must have been by a thimble…rigger； then；' said
the coachman； bending back； and half turning his face round with a
broad leer。 'You have hit the mark wonderfully；' said I。 'You
coachmen； whatever else you may be； are certainly no fools。' 'We
ain't； ain't we？' said the coachman。 'There you are right； and； to
show you that you are； I'll now trouble you for your fare。 If you
have been amongst the thimble…riggers you must be tolerably well
cleared out。 Where are you going？ … to … ？ I think I have seen
you there。 The fare is sixteen shillings。 Come； tip us the blunt；
them that has no money can't ride on my mail。'
Sixteen shillings was a large sum； and to pay it would make a
considerable inroad on my slender finances； I thought； at first；
that I would say I did not want to go so far； but then the fellow
would ask at once where I wanted to go； and I was ashamed to
acknowledge my utter ignorance of the road。 I determined；
therefore； to pay the fare； with a tacit determination not to mount
a coach in future without knowing whither I was going。 So I paid
the man the money； who； turning round； shouted to the guard … 'All
right； Jem； got fare to … '； and forthwith whipped on his horses；
especially the off hand leader； for whom he seemed to entertain a
particular spite； to greater speed than before … the horses flew。
A young moon gave a feeble light； partially illuminating a line of
road which； appearing by no means interesting； I the less regretted
having paid my money for the privilege of being hurried along it in
the flying vehicle。 We frequently changed horses； and at last my
friend the coachman was replaced by another； the very image of
himself … hawk nose； red face； with narrow…rimmed hat and
fashionable benjamin。 After he had driven about fifty yards； the
new coachman fell to whipping one of the horses。 'D… this near…
hand wheeler；' said he； 'the brute has got a corn。' 'Whipping him
won't cure him of his corn；' said I。 'Who told you to speak？' said
the driver； with an oath； 'mind your own business； 'tisn't from the
like of you I am to learn to drive 'orses。' Presently I fell into
a broken kind of slumber。 In an hour or two I was aroused by a
rough voice … 'Got to …； young man； get down if you please。' I
opened my eyes … there was a dim and indistinct light； like that
which precedes dawn； the coach was standing still in something like
a street； just below me stood the guard。 'Do you mean to get
down；' said he； 'or will you keep us here till morning？ other fares
want to get up。' Scarcely knowing what I did； I took my bundle and
stick and descended； whilst two people mounted。 'All right； John；'
said the guard to the coachman； springing up behind； whereupon off
whisked the coach； one or two individuals who were standing by
disappeared； and I was left alone。
CHAPTER LX
The still hour … A thrill … The wondrous circle … The shepherd …
Heaps and barrows … What do you mean？ … Milk of the plains …
Hengist spared it … No presents。
AFTER standing still a minute or two； considering what I should do；
I moved down what appeared to be the street of a small straggling
town； presently I passed by a church； which rose indistinctly on my
right hand； anon there was the rustling of foliage and the rushing
of waters。 I reached a bridge； beneath which a small stream was
running in the direction of the south。 I stopped and leaned over
the parapet； for I have always loved to look upon streams；
especially at the still hours。 'What stream is this； I wonder？'
said I； as I looked down from the parapet into the water； which
whirled and gurgled below。
Leaving the bridge； I ascended a gentle acclivity； and presently
reached what appeared to be a tract of moory undulating ground。 It
was now tolerably light； but there was a mist or haze abroad which
prevented my seeing objects with much precision。 I felt chill in
the damp air of the early morn； and walked rapidly forward。 In
about half an hour I arrived where the road divided into two； at an
angle or tongue of dark green sward。 'To the right or the left？'
said I； and forthwith took； without knowing why； the left…hand
road； along which I proceeded about a hundred yards； when； in the
midst of the tongue of sward formed by the two roads； collaterally
with myself； I perceived what I at first conceived to be a small
grove of blighted trunks of oaks； barked and gray。 I stood still
for a moment； and then； turning off the road； ad