Lord Silverbridge had brought a drag with all its appendages.
There was a coach, the four bay horses, the harness, and the two
regulation grooms. When making this purchase he had condescended
to say a word to his father on the subject. 'Everybody belongs to
the four-in-hand club now,' said the son.
'I never did,' said the Duke.
'Ah,--if I could be like you!'
The Duke said that he would think about it, and then had told Mr
Morton that he was to pay the bill for this new toy. He had
thought about it, and had assured himself that driving a coach and
four was at present regarded as a fitting amusement for young men
of rank and wealth. He did not understand it himself. It seemed to
him to be as unnatural as though a gentleman should turn
blacksmith and make horseshoes for his amusement. Driving four
horses was hard work. But the same might be said of rowing. There
were men, he knew, who would spend their day standing at a lathe,
making little boxes for their recreation. He did not sympathise
with it. But the fact was so, and this driving of coaches was
regarded with favour.
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