BOWLING GREEN. 103 



placing a peculiar emphasis on the word nunc, 

 and beating time very appropriately with his feet 

 at the same instant. Dr. Aston whispered to 

 Dawson that their worthy neighbour was c half 

 seas over.' ' So he is,' said Dawson, < but his 

 soul's in Port.' I must however add for the credit 

 of the Club, that except Mr. Tibbalt, no one was 

 inclined to go beyond the bounds of a proper de- 

 corum in drinking. 



After dinner some of the party resumed their 

 amusement of perch-fishing, while others adjourned 

 to the bowling-green. It is seldom that a happier 

 or a merrier set of persons met together. Those 

 who preferred bowls, selected their favourite num- 

 bers, sides were then chosen, the Jack was cast, 

 and the game began. It is too well known to 

 require a description. The words, * rub, rub,' 

 were incessantly heard, and legs and arms were 

 thrown into various attitudes, as if the doing so 

 would influence the movement of the ball as it 

 approached the Jack. Some jumped with delight, 

 and others ran after their ball as soon as it was de- 

 livered to see where it had stopped, or what effect 

 it had produced on those of their opponents. One 

 person would abuse his ball for having too much 

 bias, and another for not having enough. As the 

 party became hot and tired, tankards of foaming 

 ale were brought to refresh them. Some enjoyed 

 it under the shade of a beautiful thorn, which 



