8o 



" When the hounds find ? " exclaimed Lady Charlotte, 

 with some expression of doubt on her countenance. 



" As steady as old Time, I assure you, Lady Charlotte," 

 replied Sir John ; " besides, he is a perfect old woman 

 across a country, and has too great a regard for his own 

 neck, to run any risks of breaking Frank's." 



Breakfast concluded, Frank having fed no better than 

 he slept, Sir John's cover-hack was announced as being at 

 the door, and he and his happy companion set forward on 

 their road to Bransford-wooa ; and thus they discoursed 

 on their way : 



" Well, Frank," said Sir John, " how did you get on at 

 Eton? I heard of your performances on the 'Balloon' 

 coach. Mitchell also wrote me word that Jack Bailey 

 speaks well of you." 



" Oh, Eton's well enough out of school hours, Sir John," 

 replied Frank ; " lots of fun going on then. I liked 

 Stevens very much indeed ; he never refused me a 

 tandem, and he ticked me for a terrier at once, the best 

 you ever saw ; he has drawn three badgers, and killed 

 three cats, since I have had him. I only gave two 

 guineas for him, and I have brought him down to have a 

 breed between Myrtle and him. But everybody seems to 

 like Jack Bailey ; I have had several lessons of him." 



" That's right," said Sir John ; " there's nothing like 

 being well ' nitiated ' in road-work ; and pray what was 

 your favourite road, when you went out in Stevens's 

 tandem ? " 



"Oh," replied Frank, "sometimes one, sometimes 

 another ; but I'll tell you a good story about what 

 happened a fortnight back. Two fifth-form fellows went 

 in a tandem to Egham, and dined at the ' Running Horse.' 

 They drank too much wine, and, by taking a wrong turn, 

 lost themselves in Windsor Great Park. Seeing a finger- 

 post, however, the one that was not driving got out of the 

 gig to read it, when, after a pause for I suppose he could 

 not see very clearly he called out, ' H for Windsor ; all 

 right, go along, Bob ! ' They came too late for absence, 

 and got a devil of a flogging the next day ; but ' H for 

 Windsor ; (jo along, Bob ! ' has been a kind of watchword at 

 Eton ever since." 



" Capital ! " exclaimed Sir John. " I remember a joke, 

 when I was there, which will never be forgotten. The 

 fellows had all red coats made purposely for the Montem ; 



