"Nineteen next May, sir."

"That's young; what do you think, John?"

"Well, sir, it is young; but he is as steady as a man, and is strong,and well grown, and though he has not had much experience in driving,he has a light firm hand and a quick eye, and he is somewhat careful,and I am quite sure no horse of his will be ruined for want of havinghis feet and shoes looked after."

"Your word will go the furthest, Harold," exclaimed the master,"for Sir Clifford adds in a postscript, `If I could find a mantrained by your Harold I should like him much better than any other;'so, James, lad, think it over, talk to your mother at dinner-time,and then let me know what you wish."

In a few days after this conversation it was fully settledthat James should go to Clifford Hall, in a month or six months,as it suited his master, and in the meantime he was to getall the practice in driving that could be given to him. I never knewthe carriage to go out so often before; when the mistress did not go outthe master drove himself in the two-wheeled chaise; but now,whether it was master or the young ladies, or only an errand,Ginger and I were put in the carriage and James drove us.At the first John rode with him on the box, telling him this and that,and after that James drove alone.