8 THE HUNTING FIELD 



wool, then another foxhunter, then another lump of 

 Cottonwool, apparently "quite promiscuous," as the 

 servants say, but in reality with a good deal of hen 

 Cottonwool " management." Our Cottonwools, how- 

 ever, are not lumpy ; on the contrary, fine, full-grown, 

 full-limbed, ripe, luscious-looking, fair-haired girls, 

 radiant with all the accomplishments of ogling, worsted- 

 working, dancing, and flirting. But we are leaving 

 our Master, soup-ladle in hand, pinned on the right 

 of ringlets, who sits telegraphing her daughters into 

 their places, the order of march having been some- 

 what disconcerted by the stupidity of Sam Bore'em 

 not knowing that Robertina has been setting her cap 

 at him for many months, and who has consequently 

 endangered Juliana's being stuck between papa and 

 old Mr. Pigskin, the family stop-gap, by taking out 

 Henrietta instead of his intended, or rather, the lady 

 who intends him. At length they all get settled into 

 their places, with no other derangement than two of 

 the guests getting rush-bottomed chairs which were 

 meant for the daughters, and a room which would 

 accommodate eight comfortably, or ten on a pinch, 

 is now made to hold eighteen. Of course the curtains 

 are all drawn, the shutters are shut, and there is a 

 rousing fire. Oh, Hookey Walker ! Hookey Walker ! 

 to what little purpose you wrote the " Original." 



From eighteen take "one," says the Master in his 

 own mind, and seventeen remain. Seventeen glasses 

 of wine at dinner ! Awful ! Awful at any time, but 

 doubly so when supplied by a bumper-filling clown, 

 who will shut out the skylight, or give the objector 

 the balance over his hand or up his sleeve. Pigskin 

 is the only man our Master dare compound with by 

 clubbing with another ; but then comes the question 

 who is to be the other? and also the consideration 

 whether it is not better to go the "entire animal," 

 and drink with the whole — Robertina, Juliana, 

 Henrietta, and all. 



