152 FOX-HUNTING 



the brush, of course, was his before, so there 

 was nothing generous in my handing it to 

 him. It was only adding insult to injury, to 

 hand him a brush as if I was presenting a 

 testimonial. Well, anything for peace and 

 quietness, so in I went again for his hat, 

 but still all efforts to make myself agreeable 

 were in vain. What was the use to him of 

 a hat full of mud and water on a coarse 

 day like that? As we were wet through, 

 and covered with bog mud, I thought a wet 

 and muddy tile was all that any reasonable 

 man had a right to expect, but I think I 

 promised him a new hat ; if I have never 

 given him one (and my memory fails me on 

 this point), I shall be most happy to do so 

 now. I am certain of this, that he de- 

 manded a new hat all the way homewards. 



