THE SHIRES. 237 



"Did you get away with them from the Punch- 

 bowl ? " 



" Yes, I was among the lucky ones." 



" Is, ' The King of the Golden Mines ' any use ? " 



" I fancy he is good enough." 



And yet he is reflecting on the merits of Self and Co. 

 with no little satisfaction, and does not grudge one 

 shilling of the money a hundred down, and a bill for 

 two hundred and fifty that the horse with the magni- 

 ficent name cost him last spring. 



Their performance, I admit, does them both credit. 

 I will endeavour to give a rough sketch of the some- 

 what hazardous amusement that puts him out of 

 conceit with the sport shown by his father's hounds. 



Let us picture to ourselves then, Rapid junior, re- 

 splendent in the whitest of breeches and brightest 

 of boots, with a single-breasted, square-cut scarlet coat, 

 a sleek hat curly of brim, four feet of cane hunting- 

 whip in his hand, a flower at his breast, and a tooth- 

 pick in his mouth, replaced by an enormous cigar 

 as somebody he doesn't know suggests they are not 

 likely to find. Though he looks so helpless, and more 

 than half-asleep, he is wide-awake enough in fact, and 

 dashes the weed unlighted from his lips, when he spies 

 the huntsman stand up in his stirrups as though on the 



