LETTER XXI. 227 



ments, when you would hardly turn a cat out of doors, 

 to keep my appointment, and upon many an occasion 

 not half a dozen made their appearance to greet us at 

 the place of meeting. I went one day to a fixture nearly 

 twenty miles from the kennels in such torrents of rain 

 that we were drenched to the skin long before our arrival 

 at the covert side. One solitary individual was there to 

 meet us, who looked like a drowned rat. He was, of 

 course, a very zealous sportsman. " Rather a damp 

 morning," he observed, " and I anticipate a short gather- 

 ing." ** My opinion is," I replied, " that I could water 

 my horse out of my boots, and as to the field, I think 

 it very probable that you will be its sole representative, 

 and not a bad one, upon this occasion." " Well," he 

 said, what's to be done ?" " Wait a little longer, to see 

 if a third fool makes his appearance, as there is no chance 

 of our being wetter than we are at present." We there- 

 fore stuck up under a hedge for another quarter of an 

 hour, when no other horseman joining, I said, "you are 

 now the field, and as you have had the boldness to turn 

 out in such weather, your hardihood shall be rewarded. 

 I am ready to begin drawing, for standing still won't suit 

 me any longer." *' I have been debating the question," 

 he replied, " and although I should like a warming un- 

 commonly just now, it is very selfish to disturb that fine 

 covert on such a day as this,, merely to gratify my own 

 feelings, when there is no one else out to join in the 

 sport. No, that won't do, so the only thing we have to 

 do is to go home and go to bed." Shaking hands we 

 parted, he for a six mile gallop, I for a weary ride 

 through heavy roads and splashing lanes, of twenty 

 miles. 



Q 2 



