76 Hunting in the Golden Days. 



present has contrived not to mention this engagement 

 that he has entered into in his family circle, fearing 

 to arouse his wife's ire, for he knows that for years 

 past she has objected to his hunting, saying that a 

 man of his age ought to know better than to be always 

 galloping after a lot of dogs' tails dressed up in a red 

 coat, looking more like a red water-butt than a human 

 being. Still, up to the present she has tolerated his 

 hunting, but Oldwig has a shrewd suspicion that if this 

 match leaks out, she is quite capable of putting a stop 

 to the whole affair. He therefore deems silence to be 

 golden, trusting that the local gossip will not reach 

 her ears, " for," says he, " it is bad enough to have to 

 ride this infernal race without having one's wife 

 bullying and threatening all the time." Very careful 

 he has had to be in these early morning exercise 

 gallops, lest he should arouse her suspicions. He has 

 had to lay his plans like a clever general, and has 

 told her that he is getting too stout, and has deter- 

 mined to reduce his weight, as Doctor Viles has said 

 he fears his health will suffer otherwise, and so he has 

 determined to take a couple of hours' walking exercise 

 round his farm before breakfast every morning. 



So far his strategy has been complete. However, this 

 is not the only difficulty that Oldwig has had to contend 

 with, for the latest reports from the Winebold stable 

 are to the effect that Sulphur is as fit as a fiddle and 

 as sound as a bell. It seems as though this race, backed 

 up as it is by all his friends, will have to take place. 



Oldwig is too good a sportsman to cry off by the 

 mere invention of his horse having a sore back or an 

 influenza cold. To a certain extent he has hardened 

 his heart. A sporting young friend has volunteered 

 his offices to act as trainer, and has given him his 



