BEATING THE SPRINGS AND THE WOOD. 135 



venerable, warm look about the old red brick 

 house, on whose panes the flush of the sink- 

 ing sun was glowing. Draycourt was haunted 

 by vast congregations of starlings, who at even- 

 fall, arrived in immense flocks from all parts of 

 the surrounding country, and retired for the 

 night into the recesses of an evergreen copse, 

 which fringed the two sides of the lawn. 

 When we arrive at the gate, we were met by 

 the worthy Doctor himself, who insisted at 

 once on knowing how we had got on. 



" You will find everything in your rooms/* 

 he said, " and be ready for the Sinner-bell in 

 half-an-hour." 



It adds much to the enjoyment of a day's 

 shooting, to know that you will at the end 

 of it meet with pleasant cheery faces, in- 

 stead of retiring into the dismal solitude of an 

 inn, where the cooking is vile, and the accom- 

 modation generally insufficient. My uncle's 

 modest establishment was perfect of its kind, 

 but the Doctor had the advantage over us of 

 putting a lady at his table, and a very charm- 

 ing lady too. Mrs. Phelan could enter quickly 

 into our talk on sporting subjects, and could 



