THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



great favourite at the Abbey, and, although considerably his 

 junior, much in the confidence of Mr. Raby. Nor is this the 

 extent of the reason why he was kept in the dark. Our hero 

 knew that this outbreak of his, so far from being approved of, 

 would have been discouraged by Sir John, who, as has been 

 shown, indulged himself in various pursuits, which were con- 

 genial to his taste, and one of them of an expensive nature — I 

 allude, of course, to his propensity to the coach-box — still he 

 was so far prudent as to regulate his disbursements according 

 to his income; in other words, he had hitherto lived within 

 his means. Nevertheless, had his young friend told him that 

 he wanted a few hundred pounds to purchase hunters with, his 

 purse would have been liberally opened to him for the purpose ; 

 forasmuch as having, in some measure, looked upon himself 

 as his preceptor in matters relating to the field, and written 

 letters in praise of him to his friends at Melton, he was anxious 

 he should establish his character in that country as a first-rate 

 horseman, and — in due time — sportsman. The fact is, then, 

 his ' friend Frank,' as he always called him, and himself, 

 were not of the same party during the Epsom meeting of this 

 year, but for that of Ascot he was booked for the box place, as 

 usual, on the Baronet's well-turned-out coach, which went to, 

 and returned from, the course after the manner already 

 described during the last year's races. 



Although the intimacy between Mr. Beaumont Raby and Sir 

 John Inkleton was not on so close a footing as was that 

 between the Squire of Amstead and the Baronet, they were 

 upon very friendly terms, and, as may be supposed, occasionally 

 exchanged visits. During a morning call, when no one besides 

 themselves was present, the following expression of sentiments 

 passed between them : — 



'I think, Inkleton,' said Mr. Raby, with a smile, 'I am 

 indebted to you for the disappointment I have experienced in 

 the character and prospects of my hopeful nephew, Frank. 

 You have given him such a taste for hunting and driving, that 

 I fear he is likely to abandon all other pursuits for which his 

 education has fitted, and to which his duty calls, him. Of 

 course you are aware I could not persuade him to go abroad 

 on a tour, which eveiy young Englishman with his expectations 

 ought to do ; and he also refuses to go into Parliament, 

 although I have the ofier of a borough for him, without a 



216 



