Hunting in the Golden Days. 97 



have now brought things to a pass which they ought to 

 have reached years ago." 



" I will let you understand, Sir," says Goodbery, **that 

 there is nothing, nor has there ever been anything 

 between that good lady and myself. As you know, I am a 

 confirmed bachelor, and it is not likely at my time of life 

 that I shall change my views ; therefore, this tomfoolery 

 on your part, for I can call it nothing else, is ill-timed. I 

 may mention that since that fatal night I have received 

 no less than half-a-dozen letters from my friends con- 

 gratulating me on my approaching nuptials, and I 

 therefore come to you, as the cause of this unpleasant 

 affair, to use your best endeavours to at once put an end 

 to it, for, with all due respect to the lady in question, I 

 look upon marriage as nothing more or less than one of 

 the most terrible calamities that can befall a man." 



** Goodbery," says Oldwig, "you are an intriguing 

 scoundrel. You have won this dear lady's affections, and 

 now, forsooth, you come to me and try to persuade me 

 against my better feelings to advertise amongst your 

 friends that there is no engagement between you. I 

 should have thought at least that anyone calling him- 

 self a gentleman would have had sufficient feeling 

 not to jeopardise the character of a lady who, in 

 good faith, has plighted her hand to him. I consider 

 that your behaviour has been that of a craven and a 

 coward, and, unless you give me your word of honour, 

 which, for that matter, I may tell you now I hold very 

 lightly, that you will marry the lady instantly, I shall 

 feel it my duty as well as my privilege as an old friend 

 of Miss Janet to claim satisfaction from you." 



Now Goodbery is not a man of arms, but he 

 dreads the idea of marriage more than the muzzle of 

 a loaded pistol, and therefore thinking that by this 



