RABBIT-FERRETING. 139 



"Not quite. I only admired them and her. 

 She draws nicely, and has dainty feet, albeit cased 

 in hobnailed shoes ; but where' s Birkdrum ? " 



" Quite ten miles away luckily, Hope. And did 

 you ask them to call ? " 



"Yes; and if Mrs. Peyton be here when they 

 come to fish the loch, it is possible mademoiselle may 

 come with them." 



" Is she so pretty as Fred says ? " 



" Yes ; a slight-made girl, with frank manner, 

 blue eyes, and a fresh bright look when she smiles." 



"Ah, I see, Hope : none of that classical shoulder 

 and cut features dear to novelists ; but 



' Not too good 

 For human nature's daily food,' 



eh?" 



After dinner the Major said to Ward (who -was 

 putting some tackle in order) that "it would be 

 nice if we could get for an hour or two to a 

 theatre and see a good play." 



"So it would, Major, if one might have a choice 

 tragedy in human language, for once in a way." 



" What do you mean ? " 



"Simply that play verbiage seems so unnatural 

 often, if one feels captious." 



