178 TOM DRAWLS VISIT TO PlNfi BROOK* 



domicile ; in half a minute more I was at my ease in his study, 

 where, to my no small wonder, I found myself alone, with no 

 other employment than to survey, for the nine hundredth time, 

 the adornments of that exquisite model for that most snug of all 

 things, a cozy bachelor's peculiar snuggery. It was a small back 

 room, with two large windows looking out upon a neatly trim- 

 med grass-plat bordered with lilacs and laburnums ; its area, of 

 sixteen feet by fourteen, was strewn with a rich Turkey carpet, 

 and covered with every appurtenance for luxury and comfort 

 that could be brought into its limits without encumbering its 

 brief dimensions. A bright steel grate, with a brilliant fire of 

 Cannel coal, occupied the centre of the south side, facing the 

 entrance, while a superb book-case and secretaire of exquisite 

 mahogany filled the recess on either hand of it, their glass doors 

 showing an assortment, handsomely bound, of some eight hun- 

 dred volumes, classics, and history, and the gems of modern poe- 

 sie and old romance. Above the mantel-piece, where should have 

 hung the mirror, was a wide case, covering the whole front of 

 the pier, with doors of plate glass, through which might be dis- 

 covered, supported on a rack of ebony, and set off by a back- 

 ground of rich crimson velvet, the select armory, prized above 

 all his earthly goods by their enthusiastic owner consisting of 

 a choice pair of twin London-made double-barrels, a short 

 splendidly finished once-ball rifle, a heavy single pigeon gun, a 

 pair of genuine Kuchenreuter's nine-inch duelling pistols, and a 

 smaller pair by Joe Manton, for the belt or pocket all in the 

 most perfect order, and ready for immediate use. Facing this 

 case upon the opposite wall, along the whole length of which 

 ran a divan, or wide low sofa, of crimson damask, hung two oil 

 paintings, originals by Edward Landseer, of dogs hounds, ter- 

 riers, and all, in fact, of canine race, mongrels of low degree 

 alone excepted under these were suspended, upon brackets, 

 two long cluck guns, and an array of tandem and four-horse 

 whips, besides two fly-rods, and a cherry-stick Persian pipe, ten 

 feet at least in length. The space between the windows was 

 occupied by two fine engravings, one of the Duke of Welling- 

 ton, the other of Sir Walter in his study Harry's political and 

 literary idols ; a library centre table, with an inkstand of costly 

 buhl, covered with periodicals and papers, and no less than four 

 sumptuous arm-chairs of divers forms and patterns, completed 

 the appointments of the room ; but the picture still would be 

 incomplete, were I to pass over a huge tortoise-shell Tom Cat, 



