A QUIET BYE 



got over. Should ha' been drund to a certainty if 

 I 'd got in. Wouldn't ride at it again for nothin' 

 under knighthood Sir John Jorrocks, Knight!' 

 continued he, shortening his hold of his horse. 

 'And my ladyship Jorrocks!' added he. 'She'd 

 be bad to 'old shouldn't wonder if she 'd be for 

 goin' to Halmack's. Dash my buttons, but I wish 

 I was off this beastly fallow,' continued he; 

 ' wonderful thing to me that the farmers can't see 

 there 'd be less trouble i' growin' grass than in 

 makin' these nasty rutty fields. 'Eavens be 

 praised, there's a gate and a lane too,' saying 

 which he was speedily in the latter, and gather- 

 ing his horse together he set off at a brisk trot in 

 the direction he last saw the hounds going. 



Terribly deep it was, and great Arterxerxes 

 made a noise like the drawing of corks as he 

 blobbed along through the stiff, holding clay. 



Thus Mr. Jorrocks proceeded for a mile or 

 more, until he came upon a red-cloaked gipsy 

 wench stealing sticks from a rotten fence on the 

 left. 



53 



