72 Charlie Wildoats. 



than one occasion. Comforted by that announcement, Mr. 

 Scumbler swigged off the remainder of his soda and brandy, 

 and, bidding '' Good night " to the assembled company, 

 took himself off to bed the better to ensure his nerve for 

 the morning. 



'' What a lark it will be ! " exclaimed Wildoats, as soon 

 as he was well out of the room. *' Molly Bawn's as fresh as 

 paint, and I don't suppose the old buffer's been outside a 

 horse in his life before." '' Too bad, Charlie ! " remarked 

 one of his friends. ^* By Jove ! that brute of yours will settle 

 the poor old chap — it's not fair, 'pon my soul it ain't ! " said 

 another. To all of which Charlie simply replied, ''Bosh! " 

 adding that " the mare would be certam to kick the old 

 gent off before he had been on her back five minutes, and 

 being kicked off ain't anything — might happen to him off 

 a moke at Blackheath — dessay it has before now." So 

 saying he took his flat candle, and marched off to roost, 

 as he called it. 



The morning broke ; the breakfast came ; the hounds 

 arrived. There was the usual influx of scarlet coats into 

 the dining-room ; such gobbling and guzzling, champagne- 

 drinking and cura^ao-nipping, chattering and laughing. 

 At last they had all done, and away everybody started to 

 draw for a fox. The belt round the park being drawn 

 blank by way of commencement, a move was made for 

 the Home Wood. " By George, they've found, I do 

 believe ! " exclaimed Wildoats, who was in a small ride 

 engaged in a desperate flirtation with Lady Blanche 

 Fakeaway. For the moment so engrossed was he, 

 that he had clean forgotten the hounds, the artist, 

 everything indeed. " Come on. Lady Blanche, I do 

 believe they've given us the slip." Crash through 



