THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. iii 



corner of his mouth, was inclined to talk large, and wax 

 bumptious on the subject of hunting and his hunters. He 

 felt, in truth, somewhat unduly elated, at having been 

 (involuntarily) carried over the hurdles without what naval 

 architects call a ' displacement,' and argued to himself that 

 he must really be something out of the common to have 

 managed so well on a strange horse. 



" I think I've bought a couple of damfine hunters, 3'ou 

 know. Jack." 



"Yes," replied that gallant sportsman. "I think the big'un 

 '11 carry me awfully well — I mean you," he added, hastily. 



"And the black's a nailing little horse, ain't he"? I 

 tell you what, Jack ; you shall ride him, and I'll ride the 

 big'un, the day after to-morrow. Hounds are at Garraways 

 — that's not more than a mile or two beyond the Dog 

 Kennels, is it '?" 



"Kennels, dear boy; not Dog Kennels, please," mildly 

 put in Jack. " I accept your offer, Trousers mine ! and 

 a-hunting we will go-o-o, a-hunting we will go ! " he warbled 

 gaily, as they turned in at the lodge gates. 



On the following day, Mr. Jack Dashwood drove over 

 with a cheque signed by Mr. Septimus Binkie, and drawn 

 in favour of Mr. Edward Fobbs ; that cheque was duly 

 ' cut up ' between the payee and Mr. Dashwood, and the 

 last-named gentleman returned to The Chase. The after- 

 noon was spent in smoking cigars in and about the stables, 

 and in deciphering a missive in the somewhat erratic 

 caligraphy of Sir Thomas Fitzsquander, Baronet, which 

 the second post had brought to Travers Binkie, Esq. It 

 ran as follows — 



