"The missuses a-goin' to a dinner, of course? Ah, and a niste day for a dinner down there, and a row on the river arterwards. Goin' to meet some gents, I s'pose? But never you mind that. Play your cards well, and you'll be right, and can come down to Richmond once a week on your own hook. Don't you be a-standin' no nonsense, though, from some o' them big swells all mustarsh and beard, with rings on their fingers. You'll have some on 'em callin' at your house and tryin' it on, and wanting to cut you out: but you can dodge 'em by running up in the room when the bell didn't ring, and a-going up with coals, and letters, and sich like; and if that don't do--don't let 'em go upstairs at all. The missus'll thank yer for it arterwards, as it's all for her good. And them young things is as ignorant as can be as to what's best for them. I hain't lived five-and-forty years in this world to learn nothing, I can tell yer. Let's see, now, you're about eight-and-twenty, you are, and don't seem a bad sorter chap; but you're too tame and quiet-like-- looks as if you wus just come outer the country, don't you see? But there, that'll all come right in time I dersay. "I say, you knows, send us a slice o' cake when it comes off, my lad." Upon reaching the Star and Garter I told my Mentor to await our return; gave him a shilling to obtain the glass or two of which he had spoken; and after handing out the ladies, walked off with them to the tune of a low, but long-drawn whistle of astonishment from my self-constituted adviser. I rode home inside, for the evening was damp and chilly; and upon paying the required tribute to my husky-voiced friend, he favoured me with a long serio-comic look beneath the lamp-post, and then upon placing one foot upon the wheel to reach his perch, he turned his head, winked solemnly and with a peculiar wisdom in his eye, and then Minerva Road knew him no more. CHAPTER THIRTEEN. FROM REAL LIFE.