A MORNING'S EXERCISE 31 



curled round a saddle flap, removed the pipe from its 

 mouth, and sticking it behind its ear, stood at 

 attention. 



'^ He's just ridden a colt over from Sir William 

 Miller's to see the Irish mare," went on Batters, 

 junior, ^^and he'll be starting back directly." 



" You've had a long ride," I said. 



*' Parteeklar, sir," was the reply. 



*' How do you like the mare ? " 



" Parteeklar, parteeklar, sir." 



" Come up to the house before you go." 



'^Parteeklar, parteeklar, parteeklar, sir." 



The old fellow soon after appeared, part and parcel 

 of his horse, at the door. Billy had offered him 

 cherry brandy, saying to me, *' Perhaps it may make 

 him diversify his dialogue," and the old chap with 

 a brightening eye assented, believing he was being 

 offered brandy. He eyed the ruby liquid very sus- 

 piciously, and would have smelled it had he been un- 

 observed. Then taking a very small sip, he said, " Par- 

 teeklar ; " another sip — ** No bad ; " sip — ** Gey guid ; " 

 sip — '* Dode, that's better nor whusky ; " a large sip — 

 " A body wad never sta' onna that ; " a final gulp — 

 " Yin could juist drink that till yin fell aneth the 

 table." 



** True," laughed Billy, ^' that will set you up for 

 the ride home. How far is it." 



^' Parteeklar, sir, thirty mile," the old boy responded, 

 as he started at a hound's jog pace down the avenue. 



" Well, that beats anything I ever heard in the 

 Forest country last week," roared Bill ; and after 

 dinner that night he related some of his experiences 

 on that occasion. He had repaired thither with his 



