b THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



sided, I opened the letter, and a glance at the 

 contents showing me that my correspondent was of 

 the male genus, I determined to have a bit of fun, 

 and pretended to walk off in order to read the 

 suspicious document on the quiet. This movement 

 had the desired effect, and immediately I had half-a- 

 dozen volunteers in case I might require a private 

 secretary. " Hould him up while he blushes," 

 cried one. " Sure, I'll bet five gould mohrs he's not 

 game to show us his letter," roared the medico, as 

 he prepared to bar my passage to the door. " Done 

 with you. Sawbones," I exclaimed. " There's the 

 letter, now down with your dust." " Read it out. 

 Pills ; read it out," was now the cry, and when 

 the row had somewhat subsided, the following 

 document was made public : 



" Dear Hal, 



" Clara has made me promise not to ride 

 ' Moonlight ' in the Moul Allee steeple-chase; and 

 as I gave the Soucar Bunseedar a long figure for 

 the horse on purpose for this race, and have in- 

 vested no little coin upon him, I am quite at a 



