102 SKETCHES EV THE HUNTING FIELD. 



been said, and if men swagger, the inference may 

 generally be drawn that they are not modest, or that 

 their own merits are, for the most part, imaginary. 



If we abstain from discussing ourselves, we may be 

 tolerably sure that our friends will discuss us. One 

 wag will suggest that we '' go straightest in a hansom 

 cab," and another will delicately, but decidedly, express 

 an opinion that we are not so good as we were ; and, 

 with a hint that we w^ere never worth much in our 

 best days, this will sum up the question with tolerable 

 conciseness. 



Fluffyer differs from Mr. Checkley, who was intro- 

 duced at an early period of these sketches, because the 

 latter never says that he rides, while Fluffyer, with 

 considerable insoiiciamc, will describe most wonderful 

 feats which he has accomplished — in imagination. 

 Mr. Checkley would be glad to give you the impres- 

 sion that he goes like a bird, but has scruples of con- 

 science, or is wisely deterred by a dread of being found 

 out. 



Fluffyer has no such fears, and gets out of the little 

 difficulties into which his fables lead him with, it must 

 be admitted, remarkable cleverness. 



The first time I saw him I was riding with Wynnerly 

 across the country over which they had hunted the day 

 before — I had been away, and only just returned — and 

 noticed a dog-cart pull up at the gate of the field at 

 the far end of which we were. A man got down, 

 opened the gate, and walked slowly along the fence. 



