84 THE HUNTING-FIELD. 



a bed and sitting-room, and his eatables and 

 drinkables are supplied in the house.'^ 



'' No bad berth/^ said I ; " and may I ask what 

 help Mr. Forester considers it necessary to have 

 for five horses ? '' 



" He has two strappers and a lad/^ replied my 

 friend. 



'^ Which lad, I presume/^ replied I, " acts as 

 valet to Mr. Forester?'' 



" I believe he does what he wants/' said my 

 friend. 



^' Yes/' said I, " and I dare say in this v/ay his 

 wants are more than your own. But possibly 

 now we may be permitted to see the nags." 



On entering the stable JAt. Forester rose from 

 a bench placed against the wall; the lad was 

 hand-rubbing one horse's legs, the men brushing 

 over two others, all proper enough : the stable 

 was certainly scrupulously clean, the appurte- 

 nances to it all of the most expensive sort money 

 could buy, and plenty of them ; its arrangement, 

 however, partook too much of the London dealer, 

 and it was hot as a forcing-house : on one horse 

 I perceived one of the men rubbing out a stain, 

 showing marks of recent sweat. Remarking this 

 man as having quite the cut and action of a 

 stableman about him, I said to him, 



" Your stable is rather warm, my friend." 



^' Yes, Sir," respectfully replied the man, pulling 



