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Stratton was terrified as he thought of the loss of the day exhibition； and he cursed the boy； the cart； the rain； the luck； and even the battle of Waterloo itself。 But it was all of no use； the horse would not run； but the rain diddown their backs。
At two o'clock； the time appointed for the exhibition； they were yet some seven miles from Brussels。 The horse walked slowly and philosophically through the pitiless storm； the steam majestically rising from the old manure…cart； to the no small disturbance of their unfortunate olfactories。 〃It will take two hours to get to Brussels at this rate；〃 growled Stratton。 〃Oh； no；〃 replied the boy； 〃it will only take about two hours from the time we started。〃
〃But your father agreed to get us there in an hour；〃 answered Stratton。
〃I know it；〃 responded the boy； 〃but he knew it would take more than two。〃
〃I'll sue him for damages； by thunder！〃 said Stratton。
〃Oh； there would be no use in that；〃 chimed in Mr。 Pinte； 〃for you could get no satisfaction in this country。〃
〃But I shall lose more than a hundred dollars by being two hours instead of one；〃 said Stratton。
〃They care nothing about that； all they care for is your eighty francs；〃 remarked Pinte。
〃But they have lied and swindled me；〃 replied Stratton。
〃Oh； you must not mind that； it is the custom of the country。〃
The party arrived in Brussels precisely two hours and a half from the time they left the farmer's house。 Of course it was too late for the afternoon performance； and hundreds of people had been turned away disappointed。
CHAPTER XIV。 IN ENGLAND AGAIN。
EGYPTIAN HALL AND THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENSTHE SPECIAL TRAINOXFORDSTRATFORD…ON…AVONGUY OF WARWICK RELICSPURCHASE OF THE 〃HAPPY FAMILY〃RETURN TO AMERICA。
In London the General again opened his levees in Egyptian Hall； with increased success。 His unbounded popularity on the Continent； and his receptions by King Louis Philippe； of France； and King Leopold； of Belgium； had added greatly to his prestige and fame。 Those who had seen him when he was in London months before came to see him again； and new visitors crowded by thousands to the General's levees。
Besides giving these daily entertainments； the General appeared occasionally for an hour； during the intermissions； at some place in the suburbs； and for a long time he appeared every day at the Surrey Zoological Gardens； under the direction of the proprietor； Mr。 W。 Tyler。 This place subsequently became celebrated for its great music hall； in which Spurgeon； the sensational preacher； first attained his notoriety。 The place was always crowded； and when the General had gone through with his performances on the little stage； in order that all might see him； he was put into a balloon； which； secured by ropes； was then passed around the ground； just above the people's heads。 Some forty men managed the ropes and prevented the balloon from rising； but； one day； a sudden gust of wind took the balloon fairly out of the hands of half the men who had hold of the ropes； while others were lifted from the ground； and had not an alarm been instantly given； which called at least two hundred to the rescue； the little General would have been lost。
In October Barnum made a flying visit to America； remaining long enough to renew the lease of the Museum building； and to attend to various other business matters。 When he returned he was accompanied by his wife and daughters。 They took a furnished house； which； during all their three months' residence； was the scene of constant hospitality； all the distinguished people in London being entertained there。
When the engagement at Egyptian Hall expired they made an extensive tour through England and Scotland； going as far north as Aberdeen。 The General's Scotch costumes； his national dances and the 〃bit of dialect〃 which he had acquired had long been a feature of the performance and was especially admired in Scotland。 The party travelled much of the time in Barnum's own carriage； the General's carriage； ponies and other properties being conveyed in a huge van。 They found this way of travelling more comfortable than the other； besides enabling them to visit out of the way places； where often the most successful exhibitions were given。
There was one occasion when their carriage broke down； and； as they had advertised a performance in Rugby that evening； they decided to take the cars； but on arriving at the station they found the last train gone。 Barnum immediately looked up the superintendent and told him that they must have an extra train for Rugby； without an instant's delay。
〃Extra train？〃 said he； with surprise and a half…sneer； 〃extra train？ why you can't have an extra train to Rugby for less than sixty pounds。〃
〃Is that all？ well； get up your train immediately； and here are your sixty pounds。 What in the world are sixty pounds to me； when I wish to go to Rugby； or elsewhere； in a hurry。〃
The astonished superintendent took the money； bustled about； and the train was soon ready。 He was greatly puzzled to know what distinguished personhe thought he must be dealing with some prince； or； at least； a dukewas willing to give so much money to save a few hours of time； and he hesitatingly asked whom he had the honor of serving。
〃General Tom Thumb。〃
The performance at Rugby netted L160； which not only covered expenses but left a handsome margin。
When they were in Oxford； a dozen or more of the students came to the conclusion that； as the General was a little fellow； the admission fee to his entertainments should be paid in the smallest kind of money。 They accordingly provided themselves with farthings； and as each man entered； instead of handing in a shilling for his ticket； he laid down forty…eight farthings。 The counting of these small coins was a great annoyance to Mr。 Stratton； the General's father； who was ticket…seller； and after counting two or three handfuls； vexed at the delay which was preventing a crowd of ladies and gentlemen from buying tickets； Mr。 Stratton lost his temper； and cried out：
〃Blast your quarter…pennies！ I am not going to count them！ you chaps who haven't bigger money can chuck your copper into my hat and walk in。〃
Mr。 Stratton was a genuine Yankee； and thoroughly conversant with the Yankee vernacular which he used freely。 In exhibiting the General； Barnum often said to visitors that Tom Thumb's parents； and the rest of the family； were persons of the ordinary size； and that the gentleman who presided in the ticket…office was the General's father。 This made poor Stratton an object of no little curiosity； and he was pestered with all sorts of questions； on one occasion an old dowager said to him：
〃Are you really the father of General Tom Thumb？〃
〃Wa'al；〃 replied Stratton； 〃I have to support him！〃
This evasive answer is common enough in New England； but the literal dowager had her doubts； and promptly rejoined：
〃I rather think he supports you！〃
Although Barnum was in Europe on business； he made the most of his opportunities for sight…seeing； and in his few leisure hours managed to visit nearly every place of interest both in England and on the continent。
While in Birmingham； with his friend Albert Smith；