Tom Win field' s Lecture. 293 



of them ; there is Mr. Cowper, the draper, from 

 Banbury ; Master Tom says to him, " Good 

 morning, ' Ragman ' ! ^' and to his brother, " How 

 are you, ' Farnborough ^ ? " 



'' I hear our gentlemen say Lord Southampton 

 talks to his Field ; but, oh dear, sir ! if he had 

 what I have to put up with, he would, what I 

 call, ' go mad ! ' We get so many young Oxford 

 gentlemen with us ; they are a great trial to a 

 huntsman. They hire of Symonds, Seckham, 

 and Tollit, and get some funny horses, and ride 

 very wild. 



" When hounds run they start ; but they get 

 into a ruck, and it seems no fun if they are not 

 together; they don't care about hounds one bit, 

 but they will go on the line. I often wish they 

 would have it to themselves, it would be more 

 comfortable for me and my hounds. My master 

 says nothing to them, I say nothing ; they are 

 such nice young gentlemen, if it were not for 

 that. They always behave well to me, very ! 



" Now, let my lord come^ and see what I have 

 to put up with ; he would never find fault with 

 his Field ! " 



Tom looks at his watch and says it is 1.30. 

 " I told Mrs. Winfield to get some luncheon, and 

 she is very punctual," he adds. 



