"Travelling had given him some idea of distance, and of the modes of getting from one place to another--he felt that it would be a task of too great difficulty to attempt walking across England--he had no carriage, he knew of no ship to take him, some conveyance he must get, so he applied to a hackney coach. It was standing solitary in the middle of the street, the driver asleep on the steps--the skeleton horses hanging down their heads--with the peculiarly disconsolate look these poor hacked animals have. Gerard, as the son of a wealthy man, was accustomed to consider that he had a right to command those whom he could pay--yet fear of discovery and being sent back to his father filled him with unusual fears; he looked at the horses and the man--he advanced nearer, but he was afraid to take the decisive step, till the driver awaking, started up and shook himself, stared at the boy, and seeing him well dressed--and he looked, too, older than his years, from being tall--he asked, 'Do you want me, sir?' "'Yes,' said Gerard, 'I want you to drive me.' "'Get in, then. Where are you going?' "'I am going a long way--to Dromore, that is in Cumberland--' "The boy hesitated; it struck him that those miserable horses could not carry him far. 'Then you want me to take you to the stage,' said the man. 'It goes from Piccadilly--at five--we have no time to lose.' "Gerard got in--on they jumbled--and arriving at the coach-office, saw some half dozen stages ready to start. The name of Liverpool on one struck the boy, by the familiar name. If he could get to Liverpool, it were easy afterward even to walk to Dromore; so getting out of the hackney coach, he went up to the coachman, who was mounting his box, and asked, 'Will you take me to Liverpool?' "'Yes, my fine fellow, if you can pay the fare.' "'How much is it?' drawing out his purse. "'Inside or outside?' "From the moment he had addressed these men, and they began to talk of money, Gerard, calling to mind the vast disbursements of gold coin he had seen made by his father and the courier on their travels, began to fear that his little stock would ill suffice to carry him so far; and the first suggestion of prudence the little fellow ever experienced made him now answer, 'Whichever costs least.' "'Outside, then.' "'Oh, I have that--I can pay you.' "'Jump up, then, my lad--lend me your hand--here, by me--that's right--all's well, you're just in the nick, we are off directly.' "He cracked his whip, and away they flew; and as they went, Gerard felt free, and going to his mother.