402 THE BEST OF THE FUN 



Not for you, my kindly comrades of Pytchleydom, this 

 trifle. You probably told it to me. At any rate you were 

 doubtless bidden to smile over it in last week's hunting 

 field. There are two of you, among whose many amiable 

 traits are included great kindness of heart and great ab- 

 horrence of the more vulgar maladies of this life. And 

 these two set off to drive the gig from Harboro' to a certain 

 meet. The road, like many of our country ways, ran 

 through open fields ; and was of course interrupted by 

 several gates. Approaching the first of these, each making 

 belief that his only wish was to anticipate his partner in 

 the dirty and disagreeable duty of getting out to open it, 

 they descried an urchin of several summers loitering 

 outside a cottage. The same bright idea struck both 

 simultaneously. With one accord they lured the ragged 

 boy with promise of silver, popped him in between them 

 directly the first gate was opened, and honourably and 

 carefully included his scanty form in all their rugs and 

 furs. Kindness to children is ever a point in the character 

 of gentlemen. So, by way of putting the brat at his ease, 

 they forthwith opened conversation with him. " Well, my 

 little man," began one whose soothing tones might well 

 become a bishop, " how is it you are not at school ? Has 

 the School Board forgotten you ? " " No, sir," replied the 

 little man as he wriggled round to make his answer in the 

 face of the kindly interrogator, " I've got the measles ; and 

 doctor says I mustn't go back while it's catching." I 

 need hardly add that the urchin was paid off on the spot, 

 and that our two friends opened the rest of the gates for 

 themselves. 



CHAPTER LXI V \ 



JANUARY JAUNTS 



January 12, 1895. — I did not want this frost — ^did you ? j 



Possibly you did — on a good stud beginning to develop j 



the signs of wear-and-tear. In my case I had got over the j 



tear, and added further horses to withstand the wear, for \ 



neither you nor I believe in this wintry check. The world ' 



