176 TOM DRAW'S VISIT TO PINE BROOK. 



door announced a visitor, and was succeeded instantly by a 

 firm rapid footstep on the stairs, accompanied by the multitudi- 

 nous pattering and whimpering of spaniels. Without the 

 ceremony of a knock the door flew open ; and in marched, 

 with his hat on one side, a dirty looking letter in his hand, 

 and Messrs. Dan and Flash at his heel, the renowned Harry 

 Archer. 



" Here's a lark, Frank," exclaimed that worthy, pitching the 

 billet down upon the table, and casting himself into an arm- 

 chair : " Old Tom is to be here to-day to dinner, and wants to 

 go with us to the snipe meadow. So we will dine, if it so 

 please yon, at my house at three I have invited Mae to join 

 us and start directly after for Pine Brook." 



" The devil !'* I responded, somewhat energetically ; " what, 

 in this rain ?" 



" Rain yes, indeed. The wind has hauled already to the 

 westward of the south, and we shall have a starlight night, and 

 a clear day to-morrow, and grand sport, I'll warrant you ! Rain 

 yes ! I'm glad it does rain ; it will keep cockney gunners off 

 the meadows.' 7 



"But will Tom really be here ? How do you know it ? Have 

 you seen him ?" 



" Read read, man ! v he responded, lighting the while a dark 

 cheroot, and lugging out my gun-case to inspect its traps. And 

 I in due obedience took up the billet-doux, which had produced 

 this notable combustion. It was a thin, dirty, oblong letter, 

 written across the lines upon ruled paper, with a pencil, wafered, 

 and stamped with a key, and bearing in round school-boy char- 

 acters the following direction : 



for Mr. Harrye Archere Newe Yorke Esqro 

 69 Merceye streete. 



Internally it ran 



Olde friende 



havin to git some grocerees down to Yorke, I reckons 

 to quit here on Satterdaye, and so be i can fix it counts to see you tews- 

 daye for sartain. quaile promises to be considerable plentye, and cocke 

 has come on most ongodly thicke, i was down to Sam Blainses one night 

 a fortnite since and heerd a heape on them a drumminge and ehatteringe 

 everywheres round aboute. if snipes is come on yit i reckon i could 

 git awaye a daye or soe down into Jarsey ways no more at preasente 

 from ever youre old friende 



Thomas Drawe 

 i shall look in at Merceye streete bout three oclocke dinner time i guesse, 



