One morning, Rainscourt called in his curricle, and as the horses stood at the door, champing their bits, and tossing their heads as they were held by the dismounted grooms, Mrs Rainscourt, who was looking out of the window with her husband, and whose heart was fast warming towards him (for the tide once turned, the flow of affection is rapid), playfully observed, "Mr Rainscourt, you often take Emily out with you in your curricle, but you have never offered to take me; I presume you think that I am too old." "Indeed, Mrs Rainscourt, if I had thought that you would have ventured, Emily would not so often have been seated at my side. If not too late, and you will pardon my negligence, oblige me by permitting me to drive you now." "I don't know whether I ought to do so; but as married ladies have been, from time immemorial, forced from the field by their daughters, I believe I shall submit to the affront, and accept your offer." "I feel much flattered," replied he, "by your kind acquiescence; but you must allow me to desire my grooms to take these horses out, and put the others to, which are much quieter. It will be a delay of only a few minutes." Mrs Rainscourt smiled, and quitted the room, to prepare for her excursion, while Rainscourt descended to the street door. "William, drive to the stables; take these horses out, and put in the two others." "The others, sir," replied the man with surprise; "what! Smolensko and Pony-towsky?" "Yes--be smart, and bring them round as soon as you can." "Why, sir, the two young 'uns have never been in together yet-- Smolensko's but a rum customer, when aside of a steady horse; and as for Pony-towsky, he jibs just as bad as ever." "Never mind--put them in and bring them round." "Then I'd better tie up the dog, sir, for they can't neither of them abide him." "Never mind--they must be accustomed to him--so let the dog follow as usual. Be quick;" and Rainscourt returned to the house. "Sam, I can't for the life of me fancy what master's at today," said William, who had delivered his horse over to the other groom, and had mounted the curricle to drive it to the stable. "If he means to drive them two devils together, there's no road in England wide enough for him." "I'm sure I can't tell," replied the other. "No man in his senses would do it--unless, indeed, he's going to drive his wife." "Why, hardly that, for they say he wants to marry her again." "Marry his wife again--no, no, Bill: master's too wide awake for that." The curricle re-appeared at the door--Rainscourt handed in his wife, and the horses set off tightly reined by Rainscourt, and flying to and fro from the pole, so as to alarm Mrs Rainscourt, who expressed a wish to alight. "They are only fresh at first starting, my dear--they will be quiet directly." "Look there!" observed one of the promenaders; "there's Rainscourt driving his wife in the curricle." "Oh then, the bull has arrived, you may depend upon it."