THE HAUGHTY SHIRE HUXT. 169 



of his horse's head, and cocked his little hat still farther 

 over his little nose. 



A drive of something under an hour brought him within 

 sight of Catchem Court, and as he wound his way through the 

 avenue of poplar trees he saw that the building was a sub- 

 stantial one of the Elizabethan period, heavy, square, and 

 solid-looking. Pretty and well-kept gardens surrounded it 

 on every side, and a small grey stone fountain and sun-dial 

 fronted the main entrance. The appearance of the place 

 greatly impressed our friend, and as though it wanted but a 

 feather's weight to turn the beam of his uncertain mind, he at 

 once decided that should Lucretia prove what he called ' up to 

 sample,' he would — yes, he really thought he would — give 

 her a chance to become Mrs. Travers Algernon. 



Driving up to the entrance with a flourish, Mr. Binkie ran 

 his off- wheel pretty hard against the stone step projecting from 

 the doorway, and the sudden jar, whilst merely jerking the 

 driver off his seat on to the floor of the cart, shot the unfor- 

 tunate servant right out over the tail-board into the gravel path, 

 upon which he fell with a considerable amount of violence; 

 the portmanteau then deliberately tumbled out on top of him. 



Whilst master and man picked themselves up, the hall door 

 opened, and Sir Toodle came out in person to welcome his 

 guest. 



"Delighted to see you, my dear Mr. Binkie, truly delighted, 

 I'm sure. Your man will — ah — oh, there he is, I see, "regard- 

 ing through his spectacles the discomfited servant, who had 

 just risen, and was violently struggling with the trunk. " Your 

 man will — ah, here is Thomas. Thomas, take Mr. Binkie's 

 trunk to his room. Y'our hunter has arrived, Mr. Binkie ; 



