BARTON COURT. 47 



and their horses' heads were turned homewards. As the squire 

 moved off, Sir Lionel shouted, " Mind you dine with us to- 

 morrow, Beauehamp, with Will and Constance." 



11 Not likely to forget that, Markham," was the response. 



On their ride home they met Newman Butler galloping 

 towards them, puffing and blowing like a grampus. 



" Eli ! well ! Will Beauehamp, what have you done with 

 him V inquired the master of the harriers. 



" Carrying him home, Newman," pointing to the hounds 

 with his whip. 



" Ah, indeed ! too fast for old Foreman — couldn't hold the 

 pace ; obliged to give in." 



" You are not singular, Newman," replied "Will Beauehamp; 

 " scores of others were told off as well as yourself, and are riding 

 at this moment dispersed over the downs." 



CHAPTER V. 



Che dinner party at Barton Court the next evening consisted 

 of nearly the same individuals we have before described as 

 (lining at Mr. Harcourt's, with the exception of Lord Mervyn's 

 family, who sent excuses, in whose places we must substitute 

 Newman Butler, and Mr. Compton, of Brockley Park (the 

 other member for that division of the county, also a great 

 game preserver), with Mrs. Compton, a remarkably fine, hand- 

 some woman of about nve-and-thirty, who had presented him 

 with a goodly array of young olive branches around his table, 

 the eldest of whom, a bo}^ of fourteen, was then at Eton. 



Under the presidency of Sir Lionel, at his own festive 

 board, backed by the old squire of Bampton, formality was 

 obliged to throw off her cold, freezing aspect, and even Mr. 

 and Mrs. Harcourt thawed under the genial influence induced 

 by the warm-hearted and jovial hospitality of the old baronet, 

 now in his seventieth year, whose still tall, stately form, 

 measuring over six feet in height, and fine open countenance, 

 beaming with hilarity and good humour, presented the becm 

 ideal of a true English gentleman, " one of the olden time." 

 The squire of Bampton, although not so tall as his friend and 

 contemporary, was cast nearly in the same mould, and very 

 closely resembled Sir Lionel in disposition also. 



