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394 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



' Away, away, our steeds and we, 

 Upon the pinions of the wind, 

 All human dwellings left behind ; 

 We sped like meteors through the sky,' 

 Until Will Beauchamp raised a cry, 

 And checked our coursers, fast and furious, 

 Which made Miss Douglas look quite curious." 



" Charles, you are quite incorrigible," exclaimed Mrs. Gor- 

 don ; " always engaged in some mischief or freak, like a school- 

 boy." 



" Only in a little recreation to-day, dear aunt ; it was very 

 hot, and the ladies wanted fanning, for which I have been 

 already punished by being sent to Coventry by my Lady 

 Beauchamp, who has scarcely spoken to me since this untoward 

 event occurred. But now," ringing the bell, " for these Kennet 

 trout, with which, I suppose, we must order some Kennet ale to 

 wash them down. Dinner, waiter, instanter," as that person 

 appeared. 



" Yes, sir — my lord — I beg pardon." 



" Drop my lord, and bring the trout.' 



" Soup, my lord 1 " 



" No, sir ; fill the tureen with Kennet ale." 



" What wines, my lord 1 " 



"Champagne, hock, hermitage, sauterne, moselle — half-a- 

 dozen of each — quick — presto — begone ! " 



" Beg pardon, my lord," said the waiter, " but I'm afraid we 

 hav'n't all them wines in the cellar." 



** Avaunt ! fiend — begone ! " cried Malcolm with a theatrical 

 air. " "What ! will you make a younker of me ? — shall I not 

 take mine ease in mine inn, but I shall have my pocket picked 1 

 — Shakespeare — ahem ! " 



The waiter, with a stare of astonishment, instantly dis- 

 appeared from the room, telling the landlady that one of the 

 gentlemen was either mad or a London play actor. 



" Ha, ha ! " laughed Malcolm's valet, " that's my lord and 

 master, I'll swear; always cracking his jokes with everybody 

 he meets." 



The trout were quickly placed on the table, with a couple of 

 bottles of champagne and ditto of hock, which being discussed 

 by the hungry party, a cold fore- quarter of lamb succeeded, with 

 a dish of veal cutlets and broiled ham, then pastiy of various 

 kinds, to conclude with an old Wiltshire cheese, salad, and 

 Kennet ale, to which the gentlemen did ample justice. 



"Well, aunty," asked Malcolm, "don't you feel all the 



