Anthony Trollope 



and much blowing of horns, and prayers from Captain 

 Glomax that gentlemen would only be so good as to hold 

 their tongues, and a fuU-tongued volley of abuse from half 

 the field against an unfortunate gentleman who rode after 

 the escaping fox before a hound was out of the covert, they 

 settled again to their business. It was pretty to see the 

 quiet ease and apparent nonchalance, and almost affected 

 absence of bustle of those who knew their work — among 

 whom were especially to be named young Hampton, and the 

 elder Botsey, and Lord Rufford, and, above all, a dark- 

 visaged, long- whiskered, sombre, military man, who had 

 been in the carriage with Lord Rufford, and who had hardly 

 spoken a word to any one the whole day. This was the 

 celebrated Major Caneback, known to all the world as one 

 of the dullest men and best riders across country that Eng- 

 land had ever produced. But he was not so dull but that he 

 knew how to make use of his accomplishment, so as always 

 to be able to get a mount on a friend's horses. If a man 

 wanted to make a horse, or to try a horse, or to sell a horse, 

 or to buy a horse, he delighted to put Major Caneback up. 

 The Major was sympathetic and made his friend's horses, 

 and tried them, and sold them. Then he would take his 

 two bottles of wine — of course from his friend's cellar — and 

 when asked about the day's sport would be oracular in two 

 words, ' Rather slow,' * Quick spurt,' ' Goodish thing,' 

 * Regularly mulled,' and such like. Nevertheless it was a 

 great thing to have Major Caneback with you. To the list 

 of those who rode well and quietly must in justice be added 



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