THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



please, Mr. Ridgeways (himself also rising from his seat at the 

 moment, with a bumper of claret in one hand, and the delight- 

 ful mixture in the other). ' Now, sir,' said he to his admirer, 

 ' to convince you of the higli sense I entertain of the compli- 

 ment you have paid me, in proposing my health in the flattering 

 manner in which you have done it, we will, if you please, pledge 

 to each other in a bumper, out of the same bottle.' 



' I should l)e delighted, sir,' hiccuped the yeoman — the 

 Squire filling his (Mr. Ridgeways') glass at the moment. ' And 

 now, sir,' continued the Squire, ' as a still further proof of 

 sincerity, and my high esteem for you as a sportsman and 

 gentleman, suppose we take off our glasses at a chuck, and I'll 

 give the word.' 



' Delighted beyond measure,' replied the head of all the 

 snobs. 



' Gentlemen ! ' exclaimed the Squire, ' here's the health of 

 Mr. Ridgeways, a great promoter of sport. — Mr. Ridgeways' 

 good health — 7iow,' and at the word ' now,' the contents of 

 both glasses disappeared. 



The sequel of the story is soon told. The operation of the 

 buckthorn was instantaneous ; and the warm-hearted yeoman 

 was carried out of the room in a state that need not, if it 

 could, be described. 



153 



