THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. 241 



plaid gown of such a description as would represent Joseph in 

 his coat of many colours at about 9 st. 7 lbs., entered the Court 

 on the arm of her solicitor, Mr. Poky-Snowsin. She was 

 closely followed by ' Ma ' Turnover, carrying a crimson velvet 

 reticule, which contained a salts bottle, several clean pocket 

 handkerchiefs for weeping purposes, a brandy flask, and the 

 family luncheon. The ladies also took their places in the 

 ' well ' only a few feet, in fact, away from ' Halgy.' 



" Smoothe Silky Q.C., is against us, Mr. Dennison ! " 

 murmured Mr. Clutchcosts to his Counsel. " He's a very oily 

 gentleman, and most polite ; but he's dangerous, sir, very 

 dangerous, with a Jury. You'll have to watch him, sir, 3'ou'll 

 have to watch him ! " and the (more or less) worthy lawyer 

 shook his head profoundly, and then nodded in the direction 

 of the ' dangerous ' man, with more than Burleigh-like 

 profundity. 



" I'm glad to hear he's not one of the bullying sort," 

 returned Konald simply. " In my rather undisciplined con- 

 dition, I might possibly punch his head if he were rude ! " 



Mr. Clutchcosts looked shocked : violence, contempt of court, 

 writ, attachment, Holloway Gaol, application, purge contempt, 

 release, payment of costs ; all these he rolled through his 

 brain, the while he maintained the grieved expression on his 

 countenance. The next moment the curtains around the dais 

 door were violently agitated ; an usher with a white face and 

 thin scarlet hair strutted in, and called in loud tones — 



" Silence, please ! " and his Lordship waddled in. He made 

 a bob at the Bar, the Bar bobbed back at him ; then everyone 

 subsided into his seat, and the Kegistrar called out in a dry, 

 ministerial voice — 



H.H. R 



