THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUXT. 8i 



would see Binkie d — d first, if he should ask them — stated 

 his intention of running up to London alone, to see his horse 

 sold. He had received a catalogue overnight from the big: 

 horse repository, and, with the assistance of Sir Tommy, 

 had made out pretty closely the time at which the son of 

 Capulet would face the rostrum. Attired in a light drab 

 covert coat, with skirts standing out stiffly all round him, tighter 

 legged trousers than usual, and a brown billycock hat with no 

 rim to speak of, our friend drove down to the station in his 

 very high tandem cart (which had never yet had a tandem in 

 it, by the way) — got into a first-class smoker, and was whirled 

 off to town amidst a pile of sporting papers which he forgot 

 to read. 



Arrived at the London terminus, he hailed a hansom and 

 desired the driver to take him to a certain confectioner's shop 

 just out of Holborn. Here he alighted, and, sucking the 

 handle of his Whang-hai cane, entered, and was warmly 

 greeted by the ' daughter of the house,' Miss Tottie Turnover. 

 Mr. Binkie's vacuous smile was even broader than usual, as 

 he extended a large, warm, red paw across the counter and 

 enclosed the lady's — which, by the way, was also of ' useful ' 

 dimensions — in it. As Travers continued smiling and silent, 

 the goddess of the cakes opened fire with — 



" Well I never, Halgy, this is a surprise ! I never expected 

 you 'ere ! Why, where've you been, all this time ? " 



" Oh, I've been down at my place in Haughtyshire, hunting, 

 you know. Do you remember that night I took you to the 

 Gaiety, Tottie ? What awful fun we had, hadn't we ? I often 

 think of that night, you know. I don't know why I do ; but 

 I do, you know. Funny, ain't it ? " and the meaningless 



H.H. G 



