So THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. 



and then never think any more about the matter, His Grace 

 of Haughtyshire made it a wholesome rule never to let his 

 name appear as patron of a ball, or theatricals, or Steward 

 of a race meeting, unless he intended to be present in person 

 at the entertainment. Then the County people elected a 

 committee from amongst themselves for inspection pur- 

 poses, thus keeping out any ' objectionables.' Of course, 

 as the Duke's was a private pack, and there were no sub- 

 scribers, there could be no question of the riglit of anj^one to 

 come in, and this simplified matters amazingly. 



Mrs. Binkie had set her heart upon going to the ball, 

 though how to obtain tickets she did not know. Ever since 

 the advent of Mr. Eonald Dennison to The Chase, Miss 

 Binkie also had expressed a strong wish to be present. But 

 they knew nobody, or next to nobody — there was the rub. 

 In her perplexity, Mrs. Binkie turned to the Parson for 

 guidance (not of a spiritual nature), and asked him to 

 dine. 



Now, the Piev. Geoffry Yarboro being of a casual, and, 

 withal, sociable turn of mind, determined to accept the invi- 

 tation. At all events, these new people were parishioners of 

 his, and it was his duty to see something of them. So he sat 

 down and wrote a polite little note, assuring Mrs. Binkie that 

 it would afford him great pleasure to dine with her and hers, 

 at seven of the clock on the ensuing Thursday evening. 



Meantime, the gay Marmion had been sent up to Aldridge's 

 for sale, and on the day on which he was to be * dispersed,' as 

 Jack Dashwood called it. Trousers, after having vainly re- 

 quested his two friends to accompany him — it was a near meet, 

 that day, and they had privately agreed beforehand that they 



