TALES AND TRAITS OF SPORTING LIFE. 



my lialf-liack, lialf-liunter, came into tlie more wortliy 

 half of his work j nothing for it, then, but to indulge the 

 propensity, and so away we went according-Zt/. A fairer 

 mutch-maker, I will say, never was needed j and by the 

 first Monday in November, as they date it at Melton, I 

 fancied we were i^'ettino- to somethino,' like terms. 



Do D 



'*Do you like butter'd toast?" 



'' Butter'd on both sides V 



"Yes." 



" Will you marry me ?" 



And here, according to all the rules of common delicacy^ 

 our sweet sympathy came to a bit of a check, which was 

 still got tolerably well over with an appeal that must be 

 made to *^my aunt." This, though, was more than I'd 

 prepared for; and good-collar'd one, as I flattered myself 

 to be, I confess I couln't "come again" so early as that; 

 so the end of it was that Emmy must ask herself. Now 

 the idea of a man to a maiden aunt is always dreadful 

 enough anyhow ; but when that man came to be singled 

 out as myself, it was all U. P. in a minute. 



" No, my dear girl — no ! If you have any regard for 

 my good opinion — {i.e. any hopes of the little Pon- 

 tybwnbyllyn estate) — I am sure you'll think no more of 

 him. No chance of happiness to be had with such a 

 husband as that." 



Hearing this wholesale condemnation, Emily naturally 

 began to whimper a little^ and to "know the reason 

 why ?" 



^* William's very stead}"; aunt : he doesn't drink, you 

 know r 



"No — not yet, perhaps; that's a vice that's more 

 common after than before marriage ; but it isn't that." 



