170 MORE COMMON INCIDENTS. 



&-tete which the brief promenade permitted, I found my worst fears 

 confirmed ; the Heer Raven was openly approved as the future son- 

 in-law of the old woman ; the title of countess for her daughter 

 being so intoxicating as to determine her not to hesitate a moment. 



A coursing party was fixed by our host for the next morning, and 

 the sun's first glance had hardly fallen upon the frosted windows of 

 the stables, ere we found him among his stud. Each soon had his 

 mounting assigned him. The drab-coloured trowsers of Groutledge 

 struck me as hardly "the thing" in such cases, and though the close- 

 fitting light-blue pantaloons and Hessian boots of the Dutchman of- 

 fered a shade more pretension, they still were, in the most charitable 

 construction, eminently vulgar. 



I took occasion to solicit a moment's conversation with the Heer, 

 and he politely assented. " Now, Monsieur Le Comte/' said I, " as 

 you are without doubt aware that I am the accepted lover of Miss 

 Eliza, you will instantly, as a gentleman, see the propriety of my 

 requiring you to withdraw any pretension you may have formed to 

 that young lady's hand: at all events, after you have satisfied yourself 

 by personal reference, that your further attentions will prove offen- 

 sive to herself." 



The Comte paused an instant, either to make his decision, or to 

 arrange his language ; for it is true that he had no little conceit of his 

 powers in our island orthography and accentuation. 



" I shall be tell you, sare," replied he, stretching his hessian'd legs, 

 and causing his right hand and head to gesticulate with the synchronous 

 exactitude of a paralytic mandarin, as he spoke " I shall be tell you, 

 sare, to consign my claims for thataimable partner of my future days, 

 who enjoy the privilege of my affection, and has the consent of the 

 parent yield to my wishes. You are, Mistare, to know that my titles 

 and my properties give my suits very preferably to your own. You 

 have now my sentiment, nor do I believe myself in the case to change 

 of intention." 



Having effected this splutter, his nostrils expanded like the crim- 

 soned wings of the Flamingo. 



" Un moment, Monsieur," said I, as he wheeled round " my 

 card." 



He bowed ; but gave me to understand that, situated as he was, 

 he felt no repugnance in flatly declining a meeting. He now dashed 

 his toe into the stirrup, and attempting a sprightly vault, reached the 

 saddle with a sonorous fracture of his tight blues. Before he had well 

 attained his seat he checked the reins suddenly, the mare backed 

 precipitately, and declined him over her right ear. A groom came 

 forward and picked his hat up the Heer picked himself up. 



Arrived at the coursing ground, we had several excellent runs. At 

 length we got sight of a fine spanking hare which had obtained a very 

 considerable start of us over the high ground. The dogs were slipped ; 

 my host rode hard to lay them in, and away we sped after him, until 

 a broad old fence of blackberry-brambles and sloe bushes opposed 

 our comet-career ; the Heer dared not either take the leap, or dash 

 through it ; he had dismounted, and was ingloriously trying to grub 

 his way with his hunting whip, and lead his mare through. Some- 

 thing pernicious and implacable shot through my feelings at the 



