THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. 33 



look after you like a father. It'll do your liver all the good in 

 the world — shake off the wifty-woffy feeling that those overnight 

 thirsts of yours always seem to create. Hout yer come ! " 

 and with a vigorous tug he hauled the bedclothes off his 

 recumbent friend, and then beat a hasty retreat to the door 

 in order to avoid the possibility of reprisals. 



Thus adjured, Travers Algernon, suppressing a ' cuss- word,' 

 grumblingly got out of bed, and walked across the room to 

 look out of the window. The prospect was reassuring ; the day 

 was warm and sunny ; everything looked bright and green. 

 He had felt for some time past that he must soon make the 

 plunge of appearing at covert-side for the first time, if he ever 

 meant to hunt at all. As well now, as later on. And he 

 certainly did want a chance of showing oft" the gorgeous new 

 scarlet coat which Smallpage had sent home about a month 

 ago ; — yes, and the white cord breeches bearing Tautz's magic 

 name; — ah, and those lovely top-boots ! Yes, he would do and 

 dare, to-day. The chestnut should bear him gallantly on — not 

 too gallantly, but just gallantly enough, he said to himself, as 

 a sort of mental reservation, for Travers was a prudent youth 

 when his own safety was concerned. At all events, he would 

 just ride out to the meet, potter about, hunt — if the spirit 

 moved him-^and come back home, up some muddy lanes, so 

 as to get plenty of splashes on his boots and breeches, if he 

 didn't feel equal to really ' going ' with hounds. 



Yes, he thought, he actually would do this to-day; then, ever 

 thereafter, he would be able to tell his female acquaintances 

 that he ' hunted with the Duke of Haughtj^shire's hounds.' 

 It sounded sweet music in his ears. So, ringing the bell for 

 his man, he told him to send to the stables to say he would 



H.H. D 



