132 THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. 



Now Mamma Lmiipkin, who was always on the look-out for 

 opportunities of what she called ' placing ' her daughters in 

 life, and what uncharitable people usually spoke of as ' man- 

 trapping,' had heard of the new people at The Chase, and 

 even the most superficial of enquiries sufficed to assure her of 

 the fact that Travers, as the only son of the ' Merchant 

 Prince,' must be tremendously rich, now or hereafter. So 

 she laid her plans for an introduction, which she had achieved 

 through Ronald Dennison — a ' detrimental, but a very nice 

 young man for all that,' as she had described him to her girls 

 in private. And having once got the introduction part of the 

 business through, she quickly prepared to follow it up by an 

 invitation to Catchem Court ; and to effect this, she com- 

 municated her intention to her excellent husband. Sir Toodle 

 was peremptorily instructed to ask Mr. Travers Binkie over to 

 dine and sleep on the following Friday. 



Sir Toodle meekly trotted off in quest of our friend, whom 

 he discovered sitting out in a dark corner with his first-born, 

 the (more or less) beauteous Lucretia Lumpkin. The matter 

 was quickly arranged, subject to Travers obtaining his 

 mamma's consent. He went to ask it right away. 



Mrs. Binkie, who had been rather dissatisfied with the 

 conduct of her children up to this time of the evening, was 

 charmed. A title ! ' Lady ' Lumpkin ! Certainly Travers 

 must go. She thought that she (Mrs. Binkie) ought to be 

 introduced at once, but not being quite sure on this point, 

 let matters slide for the moment. 



"And I hope you'll bring your horse — there'll be plenty of 

 room in the stable," said Sir Toodle. " I— I believe the— er— 

 the turnips and cabbages and things at Catchem are very 



