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Malbone: an Oldport Romance by Thomas Wentworth Higginson
page 24 of 186 (12%)
countenances might be roused to life, in case some horse should
run away. But that one chance never occurs; the riders may not
yet be toned down into perfect breeding, but the horses are. I
do not know what could ever break the gloom of this joyless
procession, were it not that youth and beauty are always in
fashion, and one sometimes meets an exceptional barouche full
of boys and girls, who could absolutely be no happier if they
were a thousand miles away from the best society. And such a
joyous company were our four youths and maidens when they went
to drive that day, Emilia being left at home to rest after the
fatigues of the voyage.

"What beautiful horses!" was Hope's first exclamation. "What
grave people!" was her second.

"What though in solemn silence all
Roll round --"

quoted Philip.

"Hope is thinking," said Harry, "whether 'in reason's ear they
all rejoice.'"

"How COULD you know that?" said she, opening her eyes.

"One thing always strikes me," said Kate. "The sentence of
stupefaction does not seem to be enforced till after
five-and-twenty. That young lady we just met looked quite
lively and juvenile last year, I remember, and now she has
graduated into a dowager."
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