8+ SKETCHES IN THE HUNTING FIELD. 



His stud consisted of a pair of carriage-horses, a 

 couple of fairly good old hunters, together with a pony 

 which was driven about all day long, with occasional 

 .periods of rest, which were not supposed to be inter- 

 rupted by such episodes as a trip to the post-office with 

 a boy on its back, or a gallop round the park with 

 Scruton, junior, in the saddle. These little excursions 

 were believed rather to freshen him up than otherwise, 

 and on his return it was considered that he was quite 

 ready to go in the trap again, when, with a shake of his 

 gallant little head, he boldly trotted off once more ; and 

 I may parenthetically add that Scruton's pony is by no 

 means the only little animal in the country that is 

 similarly treated, and does the work of about three 

 horses. 



An augmented stud was, of course, necessary to begin 

 with, and it was found indispensable to fit out the hunt 

 servants afresh, concerning which Scruton hit upon a 

 most brilliant idea. 



Being up in town, he went one evening with a friend 

 of dramatic tastes to one of the theatres where pieces 

 are mounted most luxuriously, and was much struck by 

 the handsomely furnished rooms wherein the action of 

 the play proceeded. 



His companion assured him that the decorations of 

 these apartments were just what they seemed to be — 

 good things out of the best shops ; and this set Scruton 

 thinking. Before dinner he had, while glancing through 

 the paper, noticed an advertisement of the sale by 



