ADOUT BUYING A HORSE, 93 



people. In such cases, more people more money, and it 

 repays you. But you don't want that." 



He is right : we don't. But, at present, five iadies in our 

 drawing-room, if they don't sit quite still, are really a crowd. 



Consequently, by the time Pullinger and the three ladies, 

 and the two dismounted visitors, are arranged somehow 

 about the apartment, there's hardly any room for me, unless 

 I sit on the piano. 



Another curious fact about my Aunt's arrangements is, 

 that whatever the number of visitors in the drawing-room, 

 we are always one chair short. To make up this deticiency, 

 there is generally a search all over the house, which results 

 in the ugliest, oldest, and most eccentric-looking chair being- 

 brought down by Doddridge, who takes a melancholy plea- 

 sure in appearing with it among the company. 



Till this comes I have to stand up, wliich is awk\A-ard. 

 On this present occasion the chair which Doddridge 

 brings is a very peculiar uncomfortable-looking chair, with 

 narrow sides (like an old-fashioned Hali-porter's chair), and 

 a tall, oval back, made of cane and straw tv.isted together 

 as compactly as a bee-hive. 



Happy Thought. — If an artist wanted to drav.- a picture 

 for the Illustrated London Neus of '' Granny Knitting," this 

 is the sort of chair he would place her in. 



We are all seated, smiling. I am waiting for introduc- 

 tions. Pullinger having introduced himself, seems to have 

 suddenly come to a stand-still, or a sit-still. 



As a commencement he says — 



