THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. 233 



drifted vaguely away in quest of the sparkling fluid, whilst 

 the Duke once more turned to his fair companion. 



" These — er — interruptions are slightly annoying when one 

 has something of particular interest to say. However, to 

 resume : I was about to say — that — well, not to beat about 

 the bush, will you, my dear Miss Comely — my dear Adela — 

 honour me by becoming my wife?" 



And what Adela said in reply, may be left to the polite 

 discrimination of the reader. 



Directly the last race was over a general stampede of ' Horse, 

 Foot, and Artillery ' took place from the course. The Duke's 

 four were quickly put to, and His Grace, with an elegant twirl 

 of his long whip-thong round the stock, chirruped to his 

 team, and away they went, the leaders cantering and putting 

 in the ornamental, whilst the sturdy wheelers did the useful 

 portion of the work. Quickly following them came the 

 Binkies' carriage ; these two were almost the first to leave the 

 course. Then came a crowd of vehicles all together, followed 

 naturally by the inevitable block, and the equally inevitable 

 melaiKjc of bad language and policemen. Leaving the ' block ' 

 to arrange itself as best it can, those present bid each other 

 farewell and we hear a few of the parting words — 



" Then I shall call upon Lady Comely to-morrow after- 

 noon." 



" Good-night, dear Eonny. I am so proud that you've won 

 the Cup to-day. But I shall nerer let you ride in one of these 

 dreadful steeplechases again after we are " 



" I say, you know, if I hadn't sold the winner, why, you 

 know, I should have won the Cup to-day, shouldn't I ? " 



" No, you silly cuckoo ! The rest of the horses would have 



