FOR YOUNG SHOOTERS 71 



CHAPTEE XII 



THE SHOOTING DILETTANTE 



THIS little manual is, I am glad to know, exciting 

 a certain amount of attention in the shooting 

 world. It was only the other day that I found 

 myself engaged in helping my friend Wingfield to 

 destroy his partridges. It was to be a big drive, 

 and it was assumed that, as usual, the ladies of 

 the party would join the guns at lunch. But 

 when the discussion as to time and place began at 

 breakfast, an unwonted reluctance was to be ob- 

 served amongst the fair. 



'Tom,' said the amiable Mrs. Wingfield to her 

 husband, ' I am not quite sure we shall be able to 

 join you at lunch. Isabella has a headache, and 

 Agnes Watson wants to sketch the Abbey ruins, 

 and Sibyl Carr has a great many letters to write. 

 I think, if you don't mind, we'll stay at home to- 

 day.' 



