12 THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. 



and mind you, Mrs. Gumpage, I mean properhi represented 

 — to her, that she would be the very last, the actual last 

 person to mterfere with sport in any way. Am I right, 

 dear Mrs. Gumpage ? Why, you are beginning to remove the 

 clothes already. I knew it. Yes, I told Eidall he had not 

 represented the matter in its proper light to you. I knew 

 I was right," and His Grace produced a solid gold case from 

 which he elegantly took a cigarette, whilst Mrs. Gumpage, 

 still unable to say a word, hustled off the flannel petticoats and 

 Gumpage's vests, and all and sundry the other mysterious 

 garments, * fearfully and wonderfully made,' which had been 

 hitherto wont to get rid of their moist, soapsuddy environment 

 by hanging on the rails of the only possible ' take off ' to the 

 Swirlingford Brook. Never again in the history of the Hunt 

 were those rails desecrated by Mrs. Gumpage's, or Mrs. 

 Anybody else's ' washing.' 



In similar manner, and with perfect suavity, did the Duke 

 attack and vanquish Jorker, and the top bar of his objection- 

 able post and rails was immediately removed, thus lowering 

 the ' lep ' by a couple of feet. His Grace's manners charmed 

 every heart, and if His Grace's veracity was not quite as 

 unimpeachable, it must be said, in common justice, that 

 nearly all the Ducal taradiddles were told in the interests of 

 kindness, courtesy, and fox-hunting : three things very excel- 

 lent, and not to be surpassed in these or any other times. 



On the afternoon of that very foggy day, the comfortable 

 morning-room of The Chase was occupied by Mr. Septimus 

 Binkie, his excellent spouse, and their daughter Penelope. 

 Mr. Travers Algernon Binkie was entertaining two of his 

 particular college friends, Mr. Jack Dashwood and Sir Thomas 



