now I CAME TO WRITE A BOOK 5 



lively for a few minutes. More than 

 that, he has all but smashed my thigh 

 and ribs ; consequently, instead of watch- 

 ing the Ouorn hounds rattle the cubs 

 round Gartree Hill cover this morning, 

 I am laid in bed sore and envious, and 

 shall probably be here for some little 

 time to come. Thus fate, or what you 

 please to term it, has impelled me to 

 carry out my half-hearted threat of yester- 

 day, viz. to write a book. 



It's wonderful how frequently the 

 whole bent of one's life from a given 

 time seems turned by a mere thread, 

 and deviates into what seemed improb- 

 able channels ; and certainly, if that 

 beggar hadn't settled me yesterday, I 

 should not at this moment be budding 

 into a real embryo author. 



Possibly some of my gentle readers 

 (in all cases made and provided, as the 



