162 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



mean, ma'am ; and I heard old Dick the huntsman say he 

 thought Mr. Francis wasn't easy in his mind about that 

 lady he used to talk so much about ; for, the last time he 

 was out with our hounds, he tried to break his neck over 

 a new white-painted gate in Lord Morton's park." 



It is scarcely necessary to say that every word of this 

 was carefully retailed the next morning to Lady Charlotte, 

 by her daughter, before her ladyship broke her fast ; and 

 by her transferred to Mr. Raby, before he ate his dinner. 

 Now then for the result. 



It so happened that, on this evening, there was no male 

 stranger guest at the Abbey ; and after the ladies left the 

 dinner-room, Mr. Raby and his only son were left by 

 themselves, over a bottle of Griffiths's port. 



"Well, Frank," said Mr. Raby, "although by Dick's 

 account you have got too fast for my harriers, I find you 

 met with your match yesterday with the foxhounds, for 

 I hear the horses were all very much beat." 



" They were, indeed," replied Frank ; " in short, only 

 one horse had wind left in him to leap a very high stile 

 at the finish, and I bought him." 



"You did right, Frank," said the father; " that is to 

 say, if you bought him at a reasonable price." 



" Two hundred was the price," said our hero. 



"A large sum, to be sure," observed Mr. Raby, " but I 

 suppose a horse that shows such superiority at the end of 

 a long fox-chase, commands a large sum. I shall order 

 Robson to give you the money to-morrow, or perhaps a 

 check on my banker will be preferable, as you will have 

 to send it to the gentleman by the post." 



" The gentleman is paid for the horse, sir," said Frank : 

 " Sir John lent me the money ; but now we are on the 

 subject of money, I have a few words to say to you, and a 

 better opportunity may not, perhaps, present itself, as I 

 am going from home to-morrow for a week or ten days. 

 As my poor elder brother is now no longer a charge upon 

 you, perhaps you will have the kindness to increase 

 my allowance, for I should be very sorry to find myself 

 involved in debts which I could not readily pay." 



" I am glad to hear you say so," replied Mr. Raby ; 

 " as for myself, I never had the courage to get into debt ; 

 but, Frank, have you quite abandoned the idea of going 

 abroad ? Your uncle is very anxious that you should go. 

 and I must say I am not a little so myself." 



