THE HAUGHTY SHIRE HUNT. 



like ears, and golden brown hair of Penelope Binkie, had 

 already brought the giddy moths fluttering round the candle 

 - — a rather unfortunate simile, perhaps, to use, considering 

 her respected father's business. All these young blades, 

 however, as not possessing the requisite qualifications, had 

 been frigidly received by the parents, and then promptly 

 sent to the rightabout, and it was plainly intimated to 

 poor Penelo^De, that unless she were wishful for a life of 

 single blessedness, she must ' look high ' in the matrimonial 

 market. 



Travers Algernon Binkie, who was about two years senior 

 to his sister, had just left PJngnose College, Oxford, and was 

 ostensibly qualifying for the Bar ; and if an assiduous 

 attendance on the Hebes behind it could fit him for the 

 ultimate wearing of a wig and gown, his father had certainly 

 no right to complain of his negligence. He w'as, as we have 

 intimated, rather an ill-favoured young man ; his cheeks were 

 red and somewhat fat, and an embryo moustache which his 

 friend. Jack Dashwood, said reminded him of a cricket match 

 (' eleven-a-side, you know')? seemed a perpetual source of 

 worry to its owner, who was constantly exhorted by the same 

 ingenuous youth to "leave it alone, old chap, or you'll break 

 'em off short." 



Mr. Binkie Junior always wore garments too small for 

 him, had sandy hair, and a big meaningless blue eye. He 

 was generally dressed, not only in, but considerably beyond, 

 the height of fashion, and affected a love for field sports 

 which he was far from feeling. The choice spirits he had 

 managed to gather round him at the 'A^arsity, smoked his 

 cigars, rode his horses, drank his port — Binkie Senior 



B 2 



