DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 95 



think they be, and I should like to hear anybody 

 say they baint." 



I could not keep my eyes from the direction of 

 the curly-brimmed beaver which had moved in 

 answer to every talker ; it moved this time into a 

 new position, quite on one side, and this movement 

 seemed to have been noticed generally and taken 

 as a sign that the wearer was about to speak. 

 There was a call of: " Order, order for Mr Watts." 

 Without rising Mr Watts brought a thick voice 

 from somewhere, many buttons down, that said : 

 "I've been thinking, and I've thought so before, 

 that the comforts of a glass of grog, or it may be 

 two, gives us a liking for just one more before we 

 toddle, and when we have got to a real liking for 

 it we don't like rents at all. How would it be now 

 if we each settled what rent we should pay instead 

 of Squire's doing it ? There be some in this room, 

 I don't mention names, that are pretty warm ; some 

 of it in the bank and perhaps the missus a tidy bit 

 in the stocking, who after they had driven the dear 

 old Squire into the workhouse would begrudge 

 to pay the poor-rate." Then he rose, tugged the 

 creases from his waistcoat and added : " Them 

 that's going to the shoot has had enough and so has 

 them as baint. I be going home, so ' Good-night.' ' 

 When the doctor is my companion he plans and 

 orders to my perfect satisfaction ; he has such a 

 taking way, especially with womenfolk, that he 

 gets all he asks for. Had it been my duty to have 

 ordered breakfast to be ready an hour before the 

 first cock-crow I should have approached the 

 subject with whispering humbleness and then very 

 >robably have compromised by suggesting a later 



