COLONEL CODSHEAD 299 



been " in the riding way though ; in other respects he looks 

 upon himself as the pink of perfection, and truly it says little 

 for a neighbourhood where such a slushbucket is tolerated. 



Yet he is not only tolerated, but run after. His red coat far 

 oftener appears above a pair of black shorts than above the 

 darned moleskins, while the glorious amplitude of calf now 

 bagging over the too tight top, like an overgrown omelette 

 souffle over a small dish, procures for him the appellation of a 

 " monstrous fine man." Somebody once told him that he was 

 like George the Fourth, and he has dressed the character ever 

 since — puffy, clean shave all round, with a profusion of wiggy- 

 looking curls at the side of his broad-banded, broad-bound, 

 broad-brimmed hat. We wonder how many Princes and 

 George the Fourths we have seen in the course of our time ? 



Codshead is in request among the women, who have a very 

 favourite maxim, " that a man is never too old to marrj-." 

 Comfortable assurance ! 



To be sure Codshead's age varies a good deal, according to 

 the views and prospects of the speaker. A mamma, with a 

 " fairish chance" daughter will kindly put him down at forty, 

 while another with small, or diminished hopes, will run him 

 up to sixty. Still, if there is a dinner going on within ten 

 miles of Turleton, Codshead is sure of an invite. Single men 

 are always in request even though they are as big as — 



'"Two single gentlemen rolled into one.'" 



This year he has shown forth in redoubled splendour — Mayor 

 of Turtleton, as well as Colonel Codshead, and the consequent 

 good living is visible alike on his carcase and on his counte- 

 nance. His hunting serves to bring him in dinners. Very few 

 appearances in a red coat procure a man the reputation of a 

 foxhunter among the non-hunting portion of the community, 

 and the politeness of a well-judging world always associates 

 good society with the sport. Thus then, if Mr. Closefist 



