88 THE HAUGHTY SHIRE HUNT. 



having from the balcony espied her 'Halgy ' in earnest conver- 

 sation with a very good-looking young man, determined upon 

 being introduced. So she went downstairs, crossed the yard, 

 touched Binkie's elbow, and speaking to him, whilst she 

 looked hard at his companion, exclaimed — 



"What a time you've been ! I got quite tired of waiting, 

 and came down. Introduce me to your friend," and she 

 shook her shoulders at the purchaser of Marmion in her 

 most fascinating style. Travers felt himself rather at a loss. 

 Dennison might make some allusion to the lady when he came 

 to The Chase. But there was no help for it, and he made 

 the introduction with a cumbrous and laboured wink to 

 his male friend as he pronounced the name, " Miss Tottie 

 Turnover." 



Then Binkie hurried her out of the yard, and took her oft' 

 to Scott's to luncheon. 



Travers Algernon Binkie arrived beneath the paternal roof- 

 tree that night rather late for dinner. He ate very little, but 

 appeared to be the- proud possessor of an important thirst. 

 At intervals he sniggered inanely to himself, apropos of 

 nothing in particular. He informed his family and friends of 

 the fact that Marmion had been sold, but he couldn't recollect 

 how much for. 



"Do you know who bought him?" enquired Jack, as he 

 cracked a walnut. 



Travers giggled again, as though he had quite lost control 

 of the muscles of his mouth. 



" Yesh. He bought him. I mean the chap who came 

 (hie) that same day horsh — horse, I mean — chucked Tommy 

 off." (Here Tommy looked ten thousand devils at the 



