i66 THE HAUGHTYSHIKE HUNT. 



drove off, very nearly taking one of the gate-posts with him as 

 he passed the lodge. 



" I suppose he can't help it," ejaculated Mr. Dash wood 

 slowly and deliberately, as he looked down the drive after the 

 retreating dogcart; " but of all the exasperating idiots ; of all 

 the cast-iron fools ; of all the ' ' 



" Come indoors and smoke the beggar's cigars," inter- 

 rupted Sir Tommy, taking the speaker by the arm. "It's 

 a much more practical way of revenging yourself upon a 

 man than by abusing him in his absence ! " and they 

 repaired indoors to punish the Cabanas and the liquor to 

 their hearts' content. 



Meantime, the object of their wrath, very much pleased 

 with himself, and especially with his killing 'get-up,' was 

 driving merrily along, thinking of the fair Lucretia, and of 

 what an easy conquest she would be, if only he considered it 

 ' good enough.' About this he couldn't quite make up what 

 he called (from an excess of courtesy, perhaps) his mind. It 

 would be nice, of course, to be able to allude to ' my father-in- 

 law, Sir Toodle,' or ' my mother-in-law. Lady Lumpkin ; ' but 

 then, on the other hand, he didn't exactly know whether such 

 a marriage wouldn't rather tie him down and restrict his 

 movements. 



" There's Tottie, now. A doosid nice gal, Tottie. I should 

 have to give her up, and it might break her heart. It'd be an 

 awful thing to do that. Then there's that other dear little 

 gal, what would she do if I married '? Might go and commit 

 suicide ; you never know. Gals are such rum 'uns. And I'm 

 rather a dog, I tliink. It's awful to be such a universal 

 masher, ain't it? " and Travers winked knowingly at the back 



