4 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



All had been satisfactorily arranged, donations 

 had tumbled in, and subscriptions had swelled the 

 coffers of the treasurer ; even the ladies (bless 

 them !) had not been behindhand, for they con- 

 tributed a cup and a purse, and there was every 

 prospect of a jolly gathering and plenty of sport. 

 The meeting having broken up, many of the 

 party sat down to cards — bragg, loo, and vingt-et- 

 un being the order of the day. Others amused 

 themselves wdth looking on, and studying the 

 game of a celebrated whist quartette, in which 

 William Palmer, the banker, and Colonel Buxey 

 Bird (said to be the two best players in India) 

 were engaged. The billiard room, where "chick"* 

 pool was going on, formed another attraction, and 

 there was a good deal of outside betting upon the 

 result of each stroke. Gambling was not my 

 forte, and there were too many "knowing ones" 

 about to make the game salubrious for a beginner, 

 so I contented myself with watching their moves, 

 cogitating upon the state of things in general, with 

 a manilla in my mouth, and a glass of sherry and 



* A chick, or pagoda, is about seven shillings. 



