204 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



courage to pop the question, for, when the time arrived for 

 popping, the cork would never come out ; in short, I am like a 

 stale bottle of stout, there's no pop left in me; and then as to a 

 choice — these lines are continually running in my head — 



' How happy could I be with either, 

 Were t'other dear charmer away ! ' 



My sensitive and soft heart is ever receiving impressions, but 

 the wax is always melting, for it ain't like cobbler's wax, which 

 keeps many a man in the saddle. This very night I have fallen 

 in love ten times, at least, already ; and were I offered the 

 selection of all the beauty here assembled on this auspicious 

 occasion to do us honour, for my life I could never make up my 

 mind, ladies, which to choose, as you all appear so irresistibly 

 bewitching. I see some men looking unutterably soft things, 

 and others whispering exceedingly foolish ones to their fair 

 partners, whilst I am standing by my unfortunate partner's 

 side like an oaf, twisting and twirling her fan (I believe I have 

 broken half a dozen to-night) ; but the very attempt to make 

 love absolutely chokes me ; in short, unless some kind soul, 

 pitying my distressed situation, does actually propose for me, 

 Bob Conyers must continue a bachelor to the end of the chapter. 

 It behoves me now, gentlemen, on behalf of the ladies, to express 

 their thanks for the compliment paid them, and the married 

 who have experienced the felicity of connubial bliss offer their 

 matronly advice to all their younger sisters to change their state 

 as soon as possible ; and my advice to young bachelors is to take 

 warning by the fate of Bob Conyers, and to strike while the 

 iron is warm and pliable." 



The next toast was fox-hunting : to which no one for some 

 time appeared inclined to respond, each master expecting the 

 other would rise ; but Beauchamp, being the youngest, knew 

 very well he could not be required to' do so, out of respect to 



his seniors. The Honourable Mr. Manvers, master of the V 



Hunt, at length stood up, and thus addressed the company : — 



"Ladies and gentlemen, one would suppose, from the dead 

 silence among the masters of fox-hounds, that not one of them 

 could give tongue ; whereas, to my certain knowledge, all pos- 

 sess stentorian lungs except myself, who am unfortunately a 



squeaker. The master of the C Hunt is notoriously a very 



fast man across country, greatly my senior in years, and my 

 superior in sporting achievements — quick enough to speak his 

 mind in the field without much ceremony or circumlocution ; 



