ANIMALS CONSIGNED TO THE WATER. 27 



any fence ; but at brooks, I think, we should soon part company, 

 as I am told Captain Markham prefers swimming through to 

 jumping over." 



" Eh — aw — why, yaas, I did get a ducking yesterday, and 

 was nearly drowned by Pegasus rolling in upon me — a near 

 thing, Vernon, eh ! " 



" Not much danger, Markham, with half a dozen fellows all 

 round you, in only four feet water ; but next time, my boy, 

 we can make a nearer thing of it, by keeping your head under 

 water a little longer." 



" Much obliged, Yernon, but hope I sha'n't need your kind 

 services." 



" Perhaps not, although young animals of a certain class are 

 often consigned to the water, to which you seem to have an 

 instinctive partiality." 



" Don't take, Yernon ; what description of animal 1 " 



" Guess, Markham." 



Constance, turning to Blanche, whispered something in her 

 ear, at which both enjoyed a hearty laugh, much to the Captain's 

 annoyance. 



" Eh, Miss Constance, you know what Yernon means 1 " 



" How should I, Captain Markham 1 I can only guess." 



" Well, what do you guess, then ? " 



" I do not feel quite at liberty to say what I think." 



"Not far out, I suspect," added Yernon, with a cynical 

 smile at the ladies. 



" Demmit, Yernon, then what do you mean, if you know 

 your own meaning ; what animals are consigned to the water V 



" Young puppies." 



" Eh ! 'pon honour can't see the wit of the thing." 



" Didn't suppose you would," replied Yernon, as the dis- 

 comfited life -guardsman walked away in high dudgeon. 



When the dinner was announced, Yernon's arm was imme- 

 diately offered and accepted by the heiress, and, at the same 

 moment, Bob Conyers coming up, claimed Constance. Whilst 

 this conversation had been carried on, William Beauchamp was 

 sitting next to Mrs. Gordon, with whom he was a favourite. 



"So I hear," she said, "you were out hunting yesterday, 

 and had a capital run." 



" Yes, pretty good," was the reply ; " but you know, my dear 

 Mrs. Gordon, fox-hunting is a forbidden topic in the drawing- 

 room, and I generally avoid entering into any conversation of 

 that kind with ladies." 



