 happened to fall in love. How it happened, or how they found it out, or
which of them first communicated the discovery to the other, nobody knows. But,
certain it is that in course of time they were married; and equally certain it
is that they were the happiest of the happy; and no less certain it is that they
deserved to be so. And it is pleasant to write down that they reared a family;
because any propagation of goodness and benevolence is no small addition to the
aristocracy of nature, and no small subject of rejoicing for mankind at large.
    The pony preserved his character for independence and principle down to the
last moment of his life; which was an unusually long one, and caused him to be
looked upon, indeed, as the very Old Parr of ponies. He often went to and fro
with the little phaeton between Mr. Garland's and his son's, and, as the old
people and the young were frequently together, had a stable of his own at the
new establishment, into which he would walk of himself with surprising dignity.
He condescended to play with the children, as they grew old enough to cultivate
his friendship, and would run up and down the little paddock with them like a
dog; but though he relaxed so far, and allowed them such small freedoms as
caresses, or even to look at his shoes or hang on by his tail, he never
permitted any one among them to mount his back or drive him; thus showing that
even their familiarity must have its limits, and that there were points between
them far too serious for trifling.
    He was not unsusceptible of warm attachments in his later life, for when the
good bachelor came to live with Mr. Garland upon the clergyman's decease, he
conceived a great friendship for him, and amiably submitted to be driven by his
hands without the least resistance. He did no work for two or three years before
he died, but lived in clover; and his last act (like a choleric old gentleman)
was to kick his doctor.
    Mr. Swiveller, recovering very slowly from his illness, and entering into
the receipt of his annuity, bought for the Marchioness a handsome stock of
clothes, and put her to school forthwith, in redemption of the vow he had made
upon his fevered bed. After casting about for some time for a name which should
be worthy of her, he decided in favour of Sophronia Sphynx, as being euphonious
and genteel, and furthermore indicative of mystery. Under this title the
Marchioness repaired, in tears,
