WARWICK WOODLANDS. 107 



THE MORNING'S SPORT. 



It was not yet broad daylight when Harry Archer, who 

 had, as was usual with him on his sporting tour, arisen 

 with the lark, was sitting in the little parlor I have before 

 described, close to the chimney corner, where a bright 

 lively fire was already burning, and spreading a warm 

 cheerful glow through the apartment. 



The large round table, drawn up close to the hearth, 

 was covered with a clean though coarse white cloth, and 

 laid for breakfast, with two cups and saucers, flanked by 

 as many plates and egg-cups, although as yet no further 

 preparations for the morning meal, except the presence 

 of a huge home-made loaf and a large roll of rich golden- 

 hued butter, had been made by the neat-handed Phillis of 

 the country inn. Two candles were lighted, for though 

 the day had broken, the sun was not yet high enough to 

 cast his rays into that deep and rock-walled valley, and 

 by their light Archer was busy with the game-bag, the 

 front of which he had finished netting on the previous 

 night. 



Frank Forester had not as yet made his appearance; 

 and still, while the gigantic copper kettle bubbled and 

 et-eamed away upon the hearth, discoursing eloquent 

 music, and servant after servant bustled in, one with a 

 cold quail-pie, another with a quart jug of cream, and 

 fresh eggs ready to be boiled by the fastidious epicures 

 in person, he steadily worked on, housewife and saddler's 

 silk, and wax and scissors ready to his hand ; and when at 

 last the door flew open, and the delinquent comrade en- 

 tered, he flung his finished job upon the chair, and gath- 

 ered up his implements, with 



"Now, Frank, let's lose no time, but get our breakfasts. 

 Halloa! Tim, bring the rockingham and the tea-chest; do 

 you hear?" 



"Well, Harry, so you've done the game-bag," exclaimed 

 the other, as he lifted it up and eyed it somewhat super- 

 ciliously — "Well, it is a good one certainly; but you are 

 the queerest fellow I ever met, to give yourself unneces- 

 sary trouble. Here you have been three days about this 

 bag, hard all; and when it's done, it is not half as good 

 a one as you can buy at Cooper's for a dollar, with all 



