58 REMINISCENCES OF A HUNTSMAN. 



room window was raised, and two very pretty young 

 ladies looked out, full of sweet pity for the deer and 

 bland commiseration ! They had scarcely uttered, 

 "Poor dear thing!" when, cap in hand, I instantly 

 joined issue, and implored them " to have the street 

 door oj^ened, or the innocent and graceful animal 

 would be killed." I knew if the door could be got 

 open he would back into the passage, and I should 

 have him safe. With the most perfect simplicity 

 and kind good humour, they answered, "Oh, yes;" 

 when, to my horror, the coated arm of a cauliflower 

 or powdered head, the legs belonging to which were 

 cased in what seemed to be black sticking-plaster 

 breeches, seized the prettiest of the girls by her 

 well-turned shoulder and, cannoning her against her 

 sister, rudely pushed them both back. " Yes, in- 

 deed!" cried the voice of a prim but choleric and 

 elderly gentleman, the sort of man who breakfasts 

 in what I should deem a dinner costume. " Let 

 him in, I say ! " " Hear me, my good fellow" (this was 

 addressed to me) ; " instead of letting him in, I'll let 

 you in for it, if you don't instantly take your animal 

 away. Take him away, I say ; you'll get nothing 

 here, and have no right with your shows to collect 

 a rabble about my door. Be off, or I'll send for the 

 beadle." 



The indignation of the old gentleman, and the idea 

 he seemed possessed with that 1 was a showman with 

 an animal that Avould, perhaps, dance on its hind legs 

 to please the company for halfpence, was so ludi- 

 crously irresistible to Elmore, Bean, and several of 

 the London dealers who were with me (I think we 

 had enlarged the deer at Kingsbury Springs or at a 

 farm of Elmore's), that we all together broke out in a 



