42 The Rev. Marmaduke Merrythought. 



dress for dinner, and opera or theatre as the case may be. 



You are sure to run against him in the paddock at 

 Epsom every day of the summer meeting, looking more 

 like an owner of one of the favourites than a country 

 parson — his white tie, indeed, knowingly folded in a 

 diamond shape, and hardly excelled even by that wonder- 

 ful choker worn by the late "ginger" Stubbs, excites the 

 admiration, not to say envy, of all beholders. The 

 Reverend, though not a better as a rule, always likes to, 

 have his '^tenner" on something for the Derby, audit 

 would not be very unwise to follow my leader, and do 

 as he does, for he is never a great way off the winner 

 when he does take it into his head to back one. 

 Eton, where he has a boy, of course sees him on the 4th 

 of June, ready armed with a pocketful of sovereigns, for 

 he is a rare hand at tipping schoolboys ; and as we find 

 our way to a friendly drag the first day of Ascot Races, 

 with a view to luncheon, an eye winks cheerfully at us 

 from over a huge double-handled mug filled with cham- 

 pagne cup, which cup, by and by, being removed, with a 

 prolonged " Ah " of satisfaction, discloses to view the 

 ruddy face of our reverend chaplain, who is beaming with 

 smiles, and apparently as happy as a king. After Ascot 

 the Reverend begins to think about going home again, 

 where fishing and shooting keep him going until cub- 

 hunting begins, of which amusement he never misses a 

 day, getting up at most unearthly hours in order to be at 

 the meet. 



Let us have a quiet peep at our Chaplain in his own 

 church at Wingfield. It is September, and we are on a 

 short visit to him for some partridge-shooting. We 

 are attending the Sunday afternoon service, and that 



