Hunting in the Golden Days. 9 



These he causes to be filled with good nut-brown ale, 

 for Goodbery believes in moderation early in the morn- 

 ing, and never drinks anything stronger than ale before 

 dinner. 



Oldwig remarks that they have no time to waste, and 

 must be moving if they do not wish to be late ; so 

 wishing themelves good luck, they are soon on their 

 way to the meet. Our hero mounts by the aid of a horse- 

 block, for he is no feather-weight, as we have already 

 hinted. Oldwig sometimes jocularly remarks to his 

 friends, " What does it matter to a man like Goodbery 

 if he weighs more than any one else in the hunt ? He's 

 g"ot good hands and judgment, a long purse, and to my 

 mind, his weight rather tends to steady his horses at 

 their fences than otherwise." 



As they jog along to the meet they fall in with 

 several other sporting people, all bound in the same 

 direction. Amongst them is Miss Richmond, mounted 

 on a white Arab and escorted by a negro servant in a 

 gorgeous livery and riding a similar animal. 



" Good morning. Miss," says Oldwig, raising his hat. 

 ^' Glad to see you are going to honour the hunt to- 

 day with your presence." At which Miss Richmond 

 smiles and says nothing, 



"Might your father be coming out this morning?" 

 ventures Goodbery. 



" Yes, papa is coming ; in fact, here he comes," as an 

 old-fashioned gentleman, mounted on a sporting-looking 

 chestnut, turns the corner. 



" Talk of angels, sure to see them," says Oldwig. 

 *' Good morning to you, Richmond. How are you ? " 



" Well, not quite as well as I might be ; rather a heavy 

 dinner last night at the Green Dragon, where they pro- 

 posed the Master's health too often. But no doubt a 



