186 MATRIMONY. 



the first interview of the parents which, 

 according to the rules of society, took 

 place at the home of the betrothed I 

 was sent for from Portsmouth to meet 

 them. I received the notification, at the 

 same time, that the merits of a haunch 

 of venison from the neighbouring park of 

 Stanstead was to be discussed, as well as 

 the matrimonial arrangements, and resolved 

 not to be absent. 



From some cause I do not recollect 

 what I did not ride my own horse that 

 day; and, not being then very par- 

 ticular what I did ride, I accepted 

 the offer of a nice-looking, well-bred, 

 little bay mare, that appeared to me to 

 have all the qualifications of a perfect 

 hackney. I did not know her, and my 

 friend, to whom she belonged, did not 

 make me acquainted with any of her 

 misgivings. He had not had her many 

 days, nor had he backed her many times ; 

 but I must think that he suspected 



