48 The Teteott Hunt llXeeU:. 



had tasted but little food since their early breakfast, 

 looking quite fresh and cheerful, unsubdued either 

 by hunger or fatigue, and much pleased at having 

 been able to show the young squire so many hares. 



The dinner at the inn was well cooked, and every- 

 thing nice except the beer, which had been brewed 

 after the same receipt as that with which the 

 markers had regaled themselves at the end of the 

 day's beat, and my father must have fallen back on 

 the bottled rum and bottled gin, if he had not 

 brought some wine with him. After dinner the old 

 keeper entered, carrying in his hand a plate of 

 hedgenuts, and stroking down his hair over his fore- 

 head, said, " Gennelmen, I can accommodate 'e with 

 some nits." A glass of port was poured out for him, 

 but being a very abstemious man, and modest, he 

 refused it at first. After some pressing, however, 

 he took the glass, and, raising it solemnly, said, 

 *' Gennelmen, you very good healths. And, better 

 luck still." 



The old keeper was a long time over his glass of 

 port, and during the absorbing process told my 

 father of the illness of a tenant who lived *' home 

 by." " Mr. Lillicrap isn't likely to be no better, so 

 I s'pose." " I am sorry for that," said my father. 

 '* Is he confined to his bed ? " " Well, sometimes 

 he"s to bade and sometimes down over stairs. But 

 he's not likely to be no better." " Has he seen any 



