Revitts sent his elbows into Mary and me again, and had a silent laugh under one glove, but pricked up his ears directly, as the conductor shouted again: "Ain't that Bob Binnies?" "What, him on the orf side?" said the driver, pointing with his whip. "Yes." "Well, what of him?" "What of him? Why, he's the chap as got married, and had such a large family." "Did he, though?" said the driver seriously. "Ten children in five years, Bill." "Lor'! with only five-and-twenty shillings a week. How did he manage?" Revitts looked very serious here, and sat listening for the answer. "Kep' him precious poor; but, stop a moment, I ain't quite right. It was five children in ten years." Revitts made another serious assault on my ribs, and I saw Mary give herself a hitch; and whisper again to her lord. There was a general laugh at this stale old joke, which, like many more well-worn ones, however, seemed to take better than the keenest wit, and just then the omnibus drew up in front of an inn to change horses. The driver unbuckled and threw down his reins, previous to descending to join the conductor, who was already off his perch. Several of the passengers got down, and after bidding Mary and me keep our places, Revitts prepared to descend, rather more slowly though, for his wedding garments were not commodious. "Don't drink anything, William dear," whispered Mary. "Not drink anything to-day?" he said, laughing. "Oh, come, that won't do!" He jumped off the step, and I saw him join the driver and conductor, who laughed and nodded, and, directly after, each man had a foaming pint of ale, which they held before putting to their lips, till Revitts came round to our side with a waiter bearing two glasses of wine and another pint of ale, the driver and conductor following. "Oh, I don't want anything," said Mary, rather sharply. "It's only sherry wine, my dear," said Revitts magnificently; and, as if to avoid remark, Mary stooped down and took the glasses, one being for me, Revitts taking his shiny pewter measure of ale. "Here is long life and happiness to you, mum, and both on you," said the driver, nodding in the most friendly way. "Aforesaid," exclaimed the conductor, "and a bit o' chaff on'y meant as fun. Long life and a merry one to both on you. Shaver, same to you." I was the "Shaver," and the healths being drunk in solemn silence, and I accommodated with a tumbler, and some water to my sherry, the driver mounted again, the conductor took out his key-bugle, the streets of pretty Richmond echoed to an old-fashioned air, and the four fresh but very dilapidated old screws that did the journey to Hampton Court and back to Richmond were shaken into a scrambling canter, so that in due time we reached the royal village, the chaff having been damped at Richmond with the ale, and ceasing afterwards to fly.