Possible Clues:

• Fellow novelist's carriage
• Might Stanley have desired to possess such a carriage?
• Phaeton's rebuilt as a carriage for one
• That carriage might give Stanley some confidence
• The expectation Stanley might have of getting a carriage
• Phaetons different - but this is similar?
• The sort of old carriage a boy might desire to have
• Laurel planted by Bob's carriage
• Vehicle taking Laurel and Bob maybe
• Laurel placed on top of Bob’s carriage