36 EEMINISCENCES OF A SPORTSMAX. 



dogs unknown to each other are apt to be jealous and 

 rather unsteady. 



I found Mr. Girdlestone's house pleasantly situated 

 in a well cultivated part of the country, apparently of a 

 light soil, favourable for the breeding of game *, distant 

 about three miles from the small to^vn of Holt, on the 

 Norfolk coast. My welcome was most hearty ; my host 

 informed me that he was a bachelor, and a housekeeper 

 had the management of his household affairs, the duties 

 of which she performed much to his satisfaction. In 

 these primitive times we sat down to dinner at five 

 o'clock ; everything was tres conime il faut, an evident 

 proof that the housekeeper was the right person in the 

 right place. The wines and heavy wet were faultless. 

 In the evening I was rather surprised, when my host 

 proposed that she should join our party, make tea for 

 us, and afterwards remain to play at dummy whist. A 

 very pretty girl about five and twenty, very neatly 

 dressed, made her appearance, and on our further 

 acquaintance, I found lively, and that she was good 

 himioured, and must have received a tolerably good 

 education. We played at cards until ten o'clock, when I 

 retired to my bed-room, and found all most comfortable, 

 and congratulated myself on being in such snug quarters, 

 with the prospect of a few days' excellent partridge 

 shooting. The breakfast nest morning would not have 



* " The mellow autumn came, and with it came 

 The promised party to enjoy its sweets ; 

 The corn is cut, the manor full of game, 

 The pointer ranges, and the sportsman beats 

 In russet jacket, — lynx-like is his aim, 

 FuU grows his bag, and wonderfid his feats. 

 Ah ! nut-brown partridges, ah ! brilliant pheasants, 

 And ah! ye poachers, — 'tis no sport for peasants." — Don Juan. 



