32 The Chirpingtons of Larkley Hall. 



do. You also know the lady who has been riding her. 

 Gentlemen, I will say no more." 



" Come, come, John, that won't do," said his master, 

 much amused. 



'' I declare to God it is true," replied John, not moving 

 a muscle of his face, and rubbing away at a curb chain. 

 Needless to observe, the whole story was pure invention 

 on the old groom's part, from beginning to end. 



And now let us imagine this hunting family arriving at 

 the meet. Here come the Chirpingtons, announces 

 somebody ; and it is soon '' Morning, Tom ! " '' Mornin', 

 squire ! " in every direction. Off come the velvet caps of 

 the huntsmen and his whippers-in, as the squire rides up 

 to have a friendly word or two with the former, and a look 

 over the hounds. My lord by this time having arrived, 

 and exchanged his hack for his hunter, consults his watch, 

 and, finding that '' time is up," gives his customary nod to 

 his huntsman, who forthwith moves off with his hounds, 

 followed by the large field, towards an outlying cover 

 belonging to Tom Chirpington, which they have decided 

 to draw first. It is generally a sure find, but to-day it is 

 indeed, a case of '' look sharp," and no mistake about it, 

 for scarcely are the hounds in at one end than the fox is 

 out at the other. 



The huntsman gets his hounds out like lightning, and 

 away they go, at a pace that looks uncommon like killing 

 the lucky few who have got well away hugging them- 

 selves as they note the fact that the majority of the 

 field have been left in the lurch. We pull up our cob and 

 proceed to enjoy the fun. Well in the van, alongside of 

 Lord Daisyfield, we can make out the squire, his wife, and 

 their eldest boy — the latter admirably mounted on a clever 



