OPENING THE CAMPAIGN. 137 



kiievr my old friend tlie grey ; if condition could 

 make him go_, lie was fit to go for a man^s life. 



I had retm'ned from hunting, had just doffed 

 the pink and et ceteras, and donned shoes, stockings, 

 and that never to be despised friend, a well made 

 but thread-bare evening coat, when my friend 

 drove up. A couple of dozen of oysters I have 

 heard termed a whet to the appetite for dinner ; 

 however, one dozen of natives between us, properly 

 qualified, sent us to the stable to await the early 

 fox-hunter^ s hour of four for something more sub- 

 stantial. The merits and demerits of his and my 

 own nags were discussed : of the latter I need say 

 nothing here ; they were at all events good ones 

 to look at, whatever they might be to go. 



Over a humble bottle of port the next day^s 

 plans were proposed ; the fixture was fourteen 

 miles oflP, and, as my friend^s horses had come 

 twenty-five the day they arrived, we agreed a 

 little walk would suit them better than a day^s 

 hunting. 



'' Do you like hare ? '^ said I ; *^^ I mean on the 

 table.^^ 



" Few things better," said my friend. 



" Do you like a bit of coursing ? " rejoined I. 



" Even better than a bit of hare," replied my 

 guest. 



" You shall have a taste of botli to-morrow," 

 said I. 



