22 THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. 



a chance; so, in 'assisting' him to buy a hunter, they took 

 particular care that the animal should be one which would suit 

 their own riding tastes. They were, moreover, quite open to 

 any chance that should offer itself, to pick up, like Autolycus 

 of old, any ' unconsidered trifle ' in the way of commission on 

 a deal. Mutual jealousy of each other's proclivities in this 

 respect had resulted in a sort of tacit agreement between 

 Jack and Sir Tommy, that neither should try to sell Binkie 

 a horse without letting the other share the spoil ; and up to 

 this period, not having seen any animal which either fancied 

 for his own riding, they had amused themselves by ' crabbing ' 

 everyone of those brought to The Chase for inspection. 



Still feeling very ' rocky,' as Mr. Dash wood expressed it, 

 our young friend Travers Algernon struggled down to the 

 front door in forty-five minutes from the time when he had 

 got out of bed. He was there joined by his two guests, both 

 clad in check suits of somewhat alarming pattern. 



A rare good-looking chestnut horse was being gently walked 

 up and down the carriage drive, and both Sir Thomas and 

 Jack fell in love with him on the spot. A rapid wink passed 

 between these worthies, and then they began the usual leg- 

 handling, fault-finding, disparagement-cum-faint-praise, which 

 is customary on examining a horse offered for sale, be he 

 good, bad, or indifferent. 



" Get on him, Travers, my boy ! " exclaimed Sir Tommy. 



Travers feebly shook his head. His nerves were not yet 

 attuned to that performance. 



" Had to put your hat on with a shoe-horn, old chap, 

 didn't you ? Ah, well, that state of affairs doesn't make 

 you ' wentursome,' as your groom calls it. Well, shall I get 



