TOM draw's visit TO PINE BROOK. ^89 



come on ylt i reckon i could git awaye a daye or soe down into 

 Jaraey ways — no more at preasente from 



ever youre old (rlende 



Thomas Drawe 

 i shall look in at Merceye streete bout three oclocke dinner time i 

 guesse. 



"Well! that matter seems to be settled," answered I, 

 when I had finished the perusal of this most notable 

 epistle. "I suppose he will be here to the fore!" 



"Sartain!" responded Archer, grinning; "and do you 

 for once, if possible — which I suppose it is not — be in 

 time for dinner; I will not wait five minutes, and I shall 

 give you a good feed; pack up your traps, and Tim shall 

 call for them at two. We dine at three, mind ! Start from 

 my door at half-past five, so as to get across in the six 

 o'clock boat. Hard will be looking out for us, I know, 

 about this time, at Pine Brook; and we shall do it easy 

 in three hours, for the roads will be heavy. Come along, 

 dogs. Good bye, Frank. Three o'clock! now don't be 

 late, there's a good lad. Here Flash! here Dan!" and 

 gathering his Macintosh about him, exit Harry. 



Thereupon to work I went with a will; rummaged up 

 gun, cleaning-rod, copper-caps, powder-horns, shot-punch, 

 and all the et ceteras of shooting, which — being always 

 stowed away with so much care at the end of one season, 

 that they are undiscoverable at the beginning of the next — 

 are sources of eternal discomfiture to those most all- 

 accomplished geniuses, high sportsmen's servants : got out 

 and greased my fen boots with the fit admixture of tal- 

 low, tar, beeswax, and Venice turpentine; hunted up 

 shooting- jacket, corduroys, plaid waistcoat, and check 

 shirts ; and, in fact, perpetrated the detested task of pack- 

 ing, barely in time for Timothy, who, as he shouldered my 

 portmanteau, and hitched up the waistband of his Qwn 

 most voluminous unmentionables, made out in the midst 

 of grins and nods, and winks, to deliver himself to the 

 following effect — 



"Please, sur, measter says, if you ple-ase to moind three 

 o't clock — for he'll be dommed, he said, please Measter 

 Forester, av he waits haaf a minit — " 



"Very well, Tim, very well— that'll do— I'll be ready." 

 "And Measter Draw be coom'd tew — nay but Ay do 

 think 'at he's fatter noo than iver — ecod, Ayse laflF to 



