188 TOM draw's visit to pine brook. 



coffee-cup and a large quarto volume of Froiasart upon 

 the table at my elbow, when a quick cheery triple rap at 

 the street door announced a visitor, and was succeeded 

 instantly by a firm rapid footstep on the stairs, accom- 

 panied by the multitudinous pattering and whimpering of 

 spaniels. Without the ceremony of a knock the door flew 

 open ; and in marched, with his hat on one side, a dirty 

 looking letter in his hand, and Messrs. Dan and Flash at 

 his heel, the renowned Harry Archer. 



"Here's a lark, Frank," exclaimed that worthy, pitching 

 the billet down upon the table, and casting himself into 

 an armchair: "Old Tom is to be here to-day to dinner, 

 and wants to go with us to the snipe meadow. So we will 

 dine, if it so please you, at my house at three — I have in- 

 vited Mac to join us — and start directly after for Pine 

 Brook." 



"The devil!" I responded, somewhat energetically; 

 "what, in this rain ?" 



"Rain — yes, indeed. The wind has hauled already to 

 the westward of the south, and we shall have a starlight 

 night, and a clear day tomorrow, and grand sport, I'll 

 warrant you ! Rain — yes ! I'm glad it ctoes rain ; it will 

 keep cockney gunners off the meadows." 



"But will Tom really be here? How do you. know it? 

 Have you seen him ?" 



"Read — read, man !" he responded, lighting a while a 

 dark cheroot, and lugging out my gun-case to inspect its 

 traps. And I in due obedience took up the billet-doux, 

 which had produced this notable combustion. It was a 

 thin, dirty, oblong letter, written across the lines upon 

 ruled paper, with a pencil, wafered, and stamped with a 

 key, and bearing in round school-boy characters the fol- 

 lowing direction : — 



tor Mr. Harrye Archere Newe Yorke Bsqre 

 69 Merceye streete 



Internally it ran— 



Olde triende 



bsviu to git some grocerees down to Yorke, I 

 reckons to quit here on Satterdaye, and so be i can fix it counts to 

 see you tewsdaye for sartain. quaile promises to be considerable 

 plentye, and coeke has come on most ongodly thlcke, i was down to 

 Sam Blalnses one night a fortnite since and heerd a heape on them 

 a drummlnge and chatteringe every wheres round aboute. if snipes is 



