ABOUT BUYING A HORSE. 3 



feels outside a horse ? '^ and ask another person, with a fresh 

 horse, just to "pop over that hedge and let's see how he 

 ^^oes." 



On the whole, the longer I look back on my past experi- 

 ence, and the more I consider the matter, the more firmly am 

 I convinced that the pleasantest way of going out hunting is 

 in a carriage, with plenty of rugs, a flask and cigars, and, if 

 you follow the hounds by road, a hamper with luncheon. 



'" I know what you want," Gloppin says. This, on con- 

 sideration, is clever of Gloppin, after I've told him what I 

 want. But it's Gloppin's characteristic ; he always knows 

 '• to a hair " what anyone wants, if they only tell him before- 

 hand. " I know what you want," says Gloppin, quite 

 angrily, as if I had put my case weakly or described my 

 requirements inadequately ; '*' you want a good stout 

 cob " 



" Yes," I say, " about fourteen one.'' 



" Well," replies Gloppin eyeing me over, doubtfully, 

 "about fourteen one or two ; something that would take you 

 a distance when you wanted to drive, and that you could just 

 throw your leg over, when you merely wanted an hour's jog 

 along the road. You wouldn't object," he adds, slyly, " to 

 getting a day's hunting out of him occasionally." 



In the presence of my Aunt and company, to whom 

 Gloppin is an oracle, I admit, with a smile intended to be 

 quite as knowing as Gloppin's, that I should 7iot object to a 

 day's hunting out of him. 



"Lor!" says Gloppin, looking round at the guests and 

 fixing my Aunt, " I know the sort of horse he wants." 



B 2 



