CHAPTER IX 



BY INVITATION 



" Von sound's neither sheep-bell nor bark ; 

 They're running! they're running! go hark!^^ 



— KiNGSLEY. 



THE pernicious practice of exchanging letters 

 with each other at the breakfast table, or of 

 reading aloud extracts therefrom, was not 

 usually followed in the family ; but on this morning, 

 in the fall of the year, I handed a note to Joanna 

 with some elation, and its contents were instantly pro- 

 claimed in a tone of triumph from behind the tea-urn. 



*' The Duke has granted us a day in his country. 

 His Grace says " — pause for effect — '' or rather the 

 note from the Field-master says : ' If you are short 

 of country and would care to have a day in the 

 Crossford side of ours, you might arrange to go 

 early next month, meeting, say, at Marchfield. You 

 can let me know at once, and write to Jimmy Fair- 

 bairn so that he may have the earths stopped.' " 



The news produced various comments. 



** Hooroosh ! " came from one end of the table. 



" What luck ! Very civil of them ; must keep my 

 best fresh for that day," from the other ; and the boy 

 Bobby, through a mouthful of scrambled eggs, splut- 

 tered, " Hope you'll find a fox. Hope there'll be a 



scent." 



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