The Meet 305 



" Yes," answers Daisy; " Mamma says she thinks there 

 are, because our hens have been going lately." Then, for 

 fear the Master may think perhaps she is hinting for com- 

 pensation, she hastens to add : " We 're not sure that any 

 fox has taken them. Papa says it 's probably a skunk, or 

 perhaps the Italians working in the gravel-pit near our 

 farm." 



" Give my compliments to your father and mother, Miss 

 Daisy," says the Master. " I will send the huntsman over 

 there to look into the matter. Meantime you might ride 

 your pony about the coverts and see if you can locate an 

 open earth. If you can't we shall have to turn the pack 

 on the Italians. You shall be my whipper-in or the hunts- 

 man, whichever you prefer!" with which the Master 

 lifts his hat and passes on. Mrs. W with her four-in- 

 hand enjoys not even a taste of the pleasure that fills Miss 

 Daisy's heart this day. 



" Good morning, William," says the Master, next, to a 

 farmer's son on a long-tailed four-year-old colt. " What 's 

 that you are riding to-day, my lad ? ' : 



" Oh, that 's the colt." 



The Master does not seem to understand. 



" The colt out of old Jane," adds the boy. 



" You don't say so ! ' The Master looks him hastily 

 over. " Surely he is the right stamp. What was his 

 sire ? " 



" Why, your thoroughbred stallion Devil-to-Pay." 



" Is that a fact ? Well, he can't help being the right 

 sort, can he ? And he is in good hands, no mistake. You 

 always give him his head at his jumps, don't you, and bring 

 him to his fences well in hand, with his hocks well under 



