THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 155 



the shelf, not that you must want for anything for the 

 rest of your life, for you have been an excellent servant. 

 But, Mother Jones, you are really past enduring. Your 

 bills of fare are of the most scanty dimensions, and as for 

 your second courses, you really give us nothing." 



" Lord, sir," replied Mrs. Jones, " what can I give you, 

 at this time of the year, better than you always have 1 

 either hare, woodcock, or snipes, as the keeper brings 

 them in ; for you know we have no pheasants here, at 

 least very few." 



" We will soon have plenty," said Frank ; " but mind 

 this, I have two friends coming to visit me next week, 

 and as the fathers of each keep excellent tables indeed, 

 one of them gives 200 a year to his French cook I 

 do hope you and the cook will exert yourselves, and 

 not let them go home saying they were half-starved at 

 Amstead." 



" Xo one was ever starved here yet," muttered the cook, 

 a> she walked out of the room, not a little nettled at the 

 remark ; adding, when she thought she was out of hearing, 

 "This comes of your Christchurch job ; but it does not 

 signify talking, the times get worse and worse. Gentlemen 

 isn't now what they had used to be, contented with a good 

 wholesome dinner; a plague on those French cooks, say 

 I ; they have brought many a good gentleman to the dogs. 

 I know one of them who " 



Here her voice was drowned by persons meeting her in 

 the passage which led to her scene of action the well- 

 stored kitchen our hero joining with Mrs. Jones in a 

 hearty laugh at the zeal displayed by the faithful old cook 

 for the credit of the Amstead kitchen. 



Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof : here the con- 

 versation with this class of domestics ceased ; but on the 

 following morning it was somewhat alarmingly resumed 

 amongst those of another description. 



" I want to see Mr. Robson," said our hero, and Mr. 

 Robson (the steward) made his appearance. 



" Robson," said Frank Raby, " I want to find out a part 

 of the park where the ground is very dry and sound, and 

 quite out of sight of the house ; also within easy reach of 

 water/' 1 



" May I ask you, sir," replied Mr. Robson, " for what 

 purpose you intend to apply such land ? If for plant- 

 ing "' 



