SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 381 



to spare, so call the huntsman and whipper-in to 

 come here directly." 



" Yes, sir; but master, seeing you looked cold, has 

 had some good gravy soup got ready/' 



" All the better, bring it in." 



Exit waiter ; enter head ditto, with a tureen of 

 hot stuff called ox-tail a misnomer generally, as 

 ox-tails are not so easily got hold of as sheep's tails 

 in the provinces. 



" Well, Thomas," exclaimed Staveley, " I was 

 afraid to ask questions, not seeing you as usual, and 

 began to think this cold weather had shrivelled you 

 up like a daisy at sunset." 



" I was engaged, squire, taking up dinner to some 

 gents in the commercial line when you rode up ; and 

 you know they always wants the best of things at a 

 moment's notice, and the lowest rate." 



" And how does the house go on, Thomas ?" 



"'Tain't burnt down yet, sir, but 'twill soon by 

 these fire engines. They have got the rail open to 

 within ten miles of us, and when they builds up the 

 station-house at Lenton Hill, 'tis all over with our 

 house. We shan't ever do any business except with 

 tourists and trappists, and they won't pay the coal 

 bill." 



" What do you call trappists ? " 



" 'Tis another name for bagmen in politer lan- 

 guage, commercial we can't tack on ' gentlemen/ 

 sir, without doing violence to our sense of truth." 



" Here, Jem," cried Staveley, "off with that red rag 

 of yours. Take it in the kitchen, Thomas, and bring 

 your master's dressing gown or your missus's flannel 



