I shall never forget the experience. It was absolutely delightful. Giving _Flora_ (I came to the conclusion that my steed with the tooth-ache must have been called _Flora_) her head, I urged her to progress as rapidly as possible. The mare promptly answered to the call. I said "chick," and she started off at a mad gallop. We absolutely flew up-hill, down-hill, and would no doubt have entered "my lady's chamber" had not the adjoining cottages been occupied by rustics. At our approach children, ducks, dogs and gipsies fled in terror. We boldly cannoned against waggons and shook milestones to their very foundations. I had long since forgotten my nervousness, and had assumed an air that would have been becoming in an individual nicknamed (let us say) "down the road Billy." I urged _Flora_ to "gee up," by suggesting that "five o'clock tea" was waiting for her on her arrival at Nearvices. My two sons, GEORGE LEWIS HERSCHELL and EDWARD CLARKE RUSSELL, also rendered valuable assistance by waving their straw hats, and singing comic songs with a vehemence that rendered the ballads undistinguishable from war ditties. As we entered Nearvices, _Flora_ stumbled, and all but fell. However, with wonderful skill, I picked her up at the end of my reins, and urged her to fresh exertions by a feeble flick of the whip, that expended its force on the shafts and a part of the collar. Again we flew on. We renewed our acquaintance with the attractive lamp-post, we crossed the sharp curve of the familiar pavement, we collided against the monument to a worthy in the market-place, and drove up with a jerk in front of the "Red Lion." I looked again at my watch; we had done the six miles in twenty-two minutes. Considering the hills, dales, and obstructive milestones, a very fair record. "What, you have come back!" exclaimed the landlady of the "Red Lion." "Why, we never expected to see you." I found subsequently that the wedding party, after watching our departure, had taken bets about our probable return. The most popular wager seemed to be that we should reappear after midnight with a wheel, a bit of harness, and the whip, but without the quadruped. I have nothing further to relate save this. That after my recent success I am thinking seriously of giving up the Bar and taking to the road. If I can raise the required capital, I think I shall run a four-horse coach between the Temple and Turnham Green. Both my boys are anxious to give up their school to act as my guard. By the way, I may add in conclusion that the parish clerk of East Babbleton declared that he had never heard (until I mentioned it) of the Great Gooseberry Will Case. So I suppose that my client must have been wrong in his details. _Pump-Handle Court, September 22, 1894._ (_Signed_) A. BRIEFLESS, JUNIOR. * * * * * [Illustration: SELF-EVIDENT. _The Colonel._ "WHAT WAS THAT NOISE I HEARD JUST NOW?" _His Nephew._ "OH! I WAS BLOWING UP MY SERVANT!"