CHAPTER XIII, 



ME. BINKIE TAKES THE PLUNGE. 



A COMPROMISE was finally effected as to Travers's appear- 

 ance at covert-side on the morning following his arrival at 

 Catchem Court. He was to ride the trusty old brown horse, 

 and turn up in all the glory of scarlet ; but on the other 

 hand, he graciously consented, at the urgent request of 

 Miss Lumpkin, to run no unnecessary risks — a concession 

 which must have cost his martial soul a severe struggle 

 to make. He was also to leave oft' hunting early in the 

 day, so as to be back in good time for afternoon tea with 

 the ladies. 



" I like this plan ! " he grinned to himself ; " doosid good 

 plan, I call it ! I shall be able to- show 'em how I look in 

 hunting- kit, and needn't do any of the jumps. Yes, it's 

 rather jolly, all this. And ain't that gal awf'ly fond of me, 

 by Jove ! I do like gals when they seem so anxious that a 

 fellow shan't fall off — I mean fall out hunting. It's so 

 much nicer than those sort of gals who hunt themselves, 

 and expect a fellow to go and jump all kinds of beastly 

 places, you know ! " 



And therefore when our friend appeared at the breakfast- 

 table, so gorgeously arrayed that Solomon in all his glory 

 wouldn't have been ' in it,' he felt no misgivings as to the 



