Melchiors Dream and Other Tales | Page 6

and consorting with the low boys in the village; though Melchior did
not fail to tell him that he was not fit company for gentlemen's sons,
that he was certain to be cut when he went to school, and that he would
probably end his days by being transported, if not hanged. There was
the second brother, who was Melchior's chief companion, and against
whom he had no particular quarrel. And there was the little pale lame
sister, whom he dearly loved; but whom, odd to say, he never tried to
improve at all; his remedy for her failings was generally, 'Let her do as
she likes, will you?' There were others who were all tiresome in their
respective ways; and one after the other they climbed up.
"'What are you doing, getting on to my bed!' inquired the indignant
brother, as soon as he could speak.
"'Don't you know the difference between a bed and a coach, godson?'
said Time, sharply.
"Melchior was about to retort, but on looking round, he saw that they
were really in a large sort of coach with very wide windows. 'I thought
I was in bed,' he muttered. 'What can I have been dreaming of?'
"'What, indeed!' said the godfather. 'But, be quick, and sit close, for you
have all to get in; you are all brothers and sisters.'
"'Must families be together?' inquired Melchior, dolefully.

"'Yes, at first,' was the answer; 'they get separated in time. In fact,
everyone has to cease driving sooner or later. I drop them on the road at
different stages, according to my orders,' and he showed a bundle of
papers in his hands; 'but, as I favour you, I will tell you in confidence
that I have to drop all your brothers and sisters before you. There, you
four oldest sit on this side, you five others there, and the little one must
stand or be nursed.'
"'Ugh!' said Melchior, 'the coach would be well enough if one was
alone; but what a squeeze with all these brats! I say, go pretty quick,
will you?'
"'I will,' said Time, 'if you wish it. But, beware that you cannot change
your mind. If I go quicker for your sake, I shall never go slow again; if
slower, I shall not again go quick; and I only favour you so far, because
you are my godson. Here, take the check-string; when you want me,
pull it, and speak through the tube. Now we're off.'
"Whereupon the old man mounted the box, and took the reins. He had
no whip; but when he wanted to start, he shook the hour-glass, and off
they went. Then Melchior saw that the road where they were driving
was very broad, and so filled with vehicles of all kinds that he could
not see the hedges. The noise and crowd and dust were very great; and
to Melchior all seemed delightfully exciting. There was every sort of
conveyance, from the grandest coach to the humblest donkey-cart; and
they seemed to have enough to do to escape being run over. Among all
the gay people there were many whom he knew; and a very nice thing
it seemed to be to drive among all the grandees, and to show his
handsome face at the window, and bow and smile to his acquaintance.
Then it appeared to be the fashion to wrap oneself in a tiger-skin rug,
and to look at life through an opera-glass, and old Time had kindly put
one of each into the coach.
"But here again Melchior was much troubled by his brothers and sisters.
Just at the moment when he was wishing to look most fashionable and
elegant, one or other of them would pull away the rug, or drop the glass,
or quarrel, or romp, or do something that spoilt the effect. In fact, one
and all, they 'just spoilt everything;' and the more he scolded, the worse

they became. The 'minx' shook her curls, and flirted through the
window with a handsome but ill-tempered looking man on a fine horse,
who praised her 'golden locks,' as he called them; and, oddly enough,
when Melchior said the man was a lout, and that the locks in question
were corkscrewy carrot shavings, she only seemed to like the man and
his compliments the more. Meanwhile, the untidy brother pored over
his book, or if he came to the window, it was only to ridicule the fine
ladies and gentlemen, so Melchior sent him to Coventry. Then
Hop-o'-my-Thumb had taken to make signs and exchange jokes with
some disreputable-looking youths in a dog-cart; and when his brother
would have put him to 'sit still like a gentleman' at the bottom of the
coach, he seemed positively to prefer his low companions; and the