212 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



by Sir John, who, as has been shown, indulged himself 

 in various pursuits, which were congenial to his taste, 

 and one of them of an expensive nature I allude, of 

 course, to his propensity to the coach-box still he was 

 so far prudent as to regulate his disbursements according 

 to his income ; in other words, he had hitherto lived 

 within his means. Nevertheless, had his young friend 

 told him that he wanted a few hundred pounds to pur- 

 chase hunters with, his purse would have been liberally 

 opened to him for the purpose ; forasmuch as having, in 

 some measure, looked upon himself as his preceptor in 

 matters relating to the field, and written letters in praise 

 of him to his friends at Melton, he was anxious he should 

 establish his character in that country as a first-rate 

 horseman, and in due time sportsman. The fact is, 

 then, his " friend Frank," as he always called him, and 

 himself, were not of the same party during the Epsom 

 meeting of this year, but for that of Ascot he was booked 

 for the box place, as usual, on the Baronet's well turned- 

 out coach, which went to, and returned from the course 

 after the manner already described during the last year's 

 races. 



Although the intimacy between Mr. Beaumont Eaby 

 and Sir John Inkleton was not on so close a footing as 

 was that between the Squire of Amstead and the Baronet, 

 they were upon very friendly terms, and, as may be 

 supposed, occasionally exchanged visits. During a morn- 

 ing call, when no one besides themselves was present, 

 the following expression of sentiments passed between 

 them : 



" I think, Inkleton," said Mr. Raby, with a smile, " I 

 am indebted to you for the disappointment I have ex- 

 perienced in the character and prospects of my hopeful 

 nephew, Frank. You have given him such a taste for 

 hunting and driving, that I fear he is likely to abandon 

 all other pursuits for which his education has fitted, and 

 to which his duty calls, him. Of course you are aware I 

 could not persuade him to go abroad on a tour, which 

 every young Englishman with his expectations ought to 

 do ; and he also refuses to go into Parliament, although I 

 have the offer of a borough for him, without a shilling 

 expense. Now, as I have often told him, I object not to 

 his being a sportsman, and he may drive his own coach, 

 when he has one, if he thinks he can do it better than his 



