THE WANING SEASON 



Master Weekly (at home for the measles), who 

 immediately sported it as his own to his school- 

 fellow, Master Walker (at home for the hooping- 

 cough) ; and it at length coming to Mr. Bateman's 

 ears, he immediately attributes their slackness to 

 the fact of their being fed on meal before hunting, 

 which of course he considered was done to save 

 flesh, and thereupon Mr. Jorrocks is voted an 

 uncommon great screw. Meanwhile our master, 

 unconscious of the verdict, goes on at a very 

 easy pace, feeling that a hot sun and a red coat 

 are incompatible. 



Sywell Plantations are blank, Layton Spinney 

 ditto ; then they take a three-miles' saunter to 

 Simonswood, where they find a hare, and at two 

 o'clock Mr. Jorrocks announces that he will draw 

 Warrington Banks, which is the last cover in his 

 draw, and then give in. Some sportsmen go home, 

 others go on, among the number Captain Shortflat, 

 who meditates an article in BeWs Life on ' Slack- 

 ness in general, and Handley Cross slackness in 

 particular.' 



211 



