MY BROTHER KEEPERS 201 



a peculiarly vivid recollection, since he has afforded 

 me many a good laugh sometimes when my coun- 

 tenance should have remained placid under any 

 circumstances. This old keeper, many of whose 

 remarks and ways appeared to be privileged, was 

 accustomed to the honour of shaking hands with 

 a noble earl whenever he turned up at a shooting- 

 party. On one memorable morning the earl was 

 expected, and the keeper stood ready. Up dashed 

 his lordship's carriage, out jumped the earl with 

 extended hand and a genial * Good-morning.' The 

 keeper grasped the hand, and reciprocated the 

 earl's salutation with, * Good - mornin', mister.' 

 Then, perceiving the enormity of his crime, he 

 added, in tones of vehement regret, ' There, what 

 be I a-sayin' of? Dashed if I knows in coorse 

 I means " my gawd " !' 



Another old keeper who, by the way, possessed 

 a terrific voice had gradually acquired the habit, 

 not only of making what were intended to be pithy 

 remarks to no one in particular, but of soliloquizing 

 at sundry times and in divers places. He had 

 practically no respect for places, and, apparently, 

 not overmuch for persons. Covert-shooting days 

 were especially productive of his diction. He 

 would place the guns with : * My lord, you 'alt at 

 the next stick, wull 'e, plee-az ? Colonel So-and-so, 

 you can go as far as yer can and then stop-like. 

 Mister So-and-so, you bide pretty much where you 



