AN M.F.H. — ANOTHER VARIETY. 85 



auction of the scenery, dresses, and " properties " of an 

 opera company, and among the items he had observed 

 several huntsmen's costumes. Probably they would go 

 cheaply. With some alterations they could easily be 

 made to fit the huntsman and whips of the Meadow- 

 mere ; and from what Scruton saw upon the stage he 

 had no doubt they would be in all respects desirable 

 garments for the hunt. 



The notion he at once propounded to his friend. 



" I see there are a lot of huntsmen's costumes at that 

 sale next week. What sort of things would they be r " 

 he asked. 



" Capital ! Just the thing for you, I should fancy, if 

 you want anything of that sort. The Dcr Freischiitz 

 dresses would suit you down to the ground, I should 

 think. Green tunics, broad leather belts — you would 

 not want the spears, of course — and yellow bucket boots. 

 They'd look awfully jolly on a horse — novel and out of 

 the ordinary run," his friend rejoined. 



Scruton's hopes faded. His innocent companion, an 

 unadulterated cockney, had no idea of hunting attire, 

 and could not understand the sensation which would 

 have been created by the appearance of a huntsman and 

 two whips in green tights and bucket boots. Scruton, 

 rather scornfully, said this would not do. 



"If you want the regular thing, have the suits out of 

 the Lily of Killarney," his friend suggested. 



" What are they like ? " Scruton asked. 



" O, Melton all over, I should say — ^just like the 



