THE LIFE OF A FOXHOUND. 17 



folded blossoms opened to her kiss. Wild and 

 happy birds heralded her coming, and all 

 things of the day welcomed her. 



At daybreak we were on our road to 

 Wiverton Gorse, accompanied by Will Sykes, 

 the huntsman, Tom Holt and Ned Adams, the 

 assistant whippers-in. I could not suppress 

 the delight I felt in going to cover; and, 

 instead of the homesick and sullen feeling 

 which I had had for a length of time, I was 

 ready to jump out of my skin with spirits. 



** Pray, keep quiet ! " said Trimbush, in a 

 reproving tone, as I galloped to his side, and 

 laid hold of one of his ears, by way of an in- 

 vitation to a romp. *' Pray, keep quiet! " 

 repeated he; " you can't be too steady in 

 going to cover. Nurse your strength," he 

 continued, " until it's wanted." 



* * I could race for thirty miles this morning, 

 without a check! " replied I, boastfully. 



"Pooh, pooh!" rejoined Trimbush; 

 ** that's the way with you young-uns — all 

 brag and self-conceit; and when it comes to 

 hard running, where are ye in a brace of 

 shakes? Somewhat in this form," continued 

 he, hanging down his head, with outstretched 

 tongue and drooping stern. 



c 



