“You’ll very likely ask me why, as Tom Smart had been pretty well blown already, he expressed this wish to be submitted to the same process again. I can’t say⁠—all I know is, that Tom Smart said so⁠—or at least he always told my uncle he said so, and it’s just the same thing.

“ ‘Blow me,’ says Tom Smart; and the mare neighed as if she were precisely of the same opinion.

“ ‘Cheer up, old girl,’ said Tom, patting the bay mare on the neck with the end of his whip. ‘It won’t do pushing on, such a night as this; the first house we come to we’ll put up at, so the faster you go the sooner it’s over. Soho, old girl⁠—gently⁠—gently.’