^omt iSvfiting IHonuuts". 105 



Dropping the curtain upon that scene, I will jog 

 your memory as to another. You may, perhaps, not 

 have wholly forgotten that little bit of rabbiting 3'ou 

 took part in that frosty Christmas ! They didn't 

 bolt very well, you will remember ; but when one did 

 show its nose, or the tips of its ears, at the mouth 

 of a hole nearl}- opposite to you, it would, perhaps, 

 on the whole (no pun intended) have been pleasanter 

 for you, if less exciting, had not the inexperienced 

 and enthusiastic gunner on the reverse side of the 

 fence so persistently caused his shots to rattle (luckily) 

 past your gaiters ! 



But you then, too, returned alive, so all was well ; 

 although at one time 3'OU must confess that you did 

 not think it likely to end so. 



It was an eminently exciting moment also when, 

 after that dance at their house — a gust of wind 

 having temporarily extinguished the passage lamp — 

 3'Ou squeezed the hand, and whispered " sweet 

 nothings " into the ear of Smith's wife, instead of 

 that of her adorable sister. The more so, as your 

 host, at the most critical moment, illuminated the 

 scene by an inopportunely ignited match ! 



It was a moment, too, painfully and realistically 

 exciting when, having in the smoking room overnight 

 talked somewhat largely of your equestrian capabil- 

 ities, you found to your discomfiture next morning. 



