242 EARLY REMINISCENCES i£ Travelling in the Perambulating Coffin was not luxurious. My father was never partial to it himself, even for going to the petty sessions at Lifton, but never was he unwilling to its being employed by others. My mother did not take cordially to it, nor later on did my stepmother, as a drive in it proved trying to the tempers and stomachs of her children and the nurse. The vehicle rocked forward and backward, much like a boat encountering adverse waves. If the driver rose to whip the flagging horse, the inmates were at once precipitated in the direction of the tail of the steed. When the driver resumed his seat with a bump, the passengers within swung towards the door, striking against each other, and the two nearest the entrance flattening against the walls of the structure itself. For a while the Perambulating Coffin was at our service for going to dinner parties. My father never attended these entertainments. But on our return home, after having partaken freely of an ample and excellent meal, winding up with meringues, nuts and almonds, crackers at Christmas, and champagne mousseux on a birthday, it was perceived that these good things had been, not so much thrown away upon us, as thrown away by us. This was a squandering of good material that was not" tolerable and not to be endured." Accordingly the employment of this conveyance for such a purpose was abandoned ; and, reluctantly, we were suffered to go and return in the family coach and pair. After a while the Perambulating Coffin became so discredited, that it was consigned to an outhouse, and thereon the poultry roosted, whitening its venerable but dishonoured head. But the wheel of fortune is ever in revolution for carriages as well as men, and a time came when the cloud that had overshadowed the Perambulating Coffin was lifted, and its white-encrusted head resumed its early dark gloss. I had come into possession of the family estate, the manor-house, the plate— and the Perambulating Coffin. Partly out of tenderness for an old friend, and a readiness to overlook past offences, this vehicle was again put in requisition. I admit that economy had something to do with its restoration to favour. But my wife, my children, their nurses and governesses never fell in love with the conveyance ; and, it must be admitted, it had
