PETER PIGSKIN 157 



were closed, and ever\thing hushed and stilled down to perfect 

 quiet. There, as Mr. Ackermann sat watching his unknown 

 guest, nature gradually recovered herself, and ere the lapse of 

 half an hour, a low, " that's very good," fell upon his astonished 

 ear, apparently from the dead man. On looking, Pigskin's 

 eyes were found fixed on the pictures of the Quorn Hunt, 

 hanging on a level with his eye on the opposite wall — how 

 long he had been contemplating them remains unknown — but 

 the one that drew forth the ejaculation was where "Snob" 

 opens the gate for the good little bay horse, instead of leaping 

 it. When the doctor returned. Pigskin was in an easy chair, 

 examining the series. The point of the story, however, is that 

 Mr. Ackermann was so delighted with the recovery, that he 

 insisted upon making Pigskin a present of the set. Nay, he 

 did more, he stretched them for him also. Far better than 

 " stretching " poor Peter himself ! Long may the old boy live 

 to tell the story, and drink Mr. Ackermann's health as the 

 kindest of men and most liberal of publishers. 



Peter enjoys life, for he is not a slave to its forms. He 

 rises with the sun, and goes to bed when he is tired. He gets 

 his dinner when he comes in from hunting, and on other days 

 he dines at two o'clock. Peter never sends out glazed or 

 embossed cards with — " Mr. and Mrs. Pigskin request the 

 honour of Mr. and Mrs. Hogslard's compan}- to dinner," and 

 so on, but if a brother foxhunter wants a billet the night 

 before hunting, he is sure to find a welcome at Peter's house. 

 So in the field ; if a man is left far from home, or tires his 

 horse, Peter has always a stall and steak pudding at his 

 service. Peter gives him the best he has, and makes no 

 apologies for what he does not offer. Then, when they have 

 satisfied hunger, and drawn their easy chairs to the fire, with 

 the little old oak table to put the bright port or black bottle 

 with its necessary accompaniments upon, Peter will go over 

 every inch of the run again, dilating with rapture on the 



