40 A VIRGINIAN. 



sian coimtj of whose name they made most unuttera- 

 ble havoc. 



Mcituschevitz, it may not be denied, watched his 

 friend closely, and he certainly did fancy that he could 

 trace something of secret wonder and admiration con- 

 cealed beneath an exterior which he set down as a 

 mixture of Mohawk impassibility of feature, and Par- 

 isian nil admirari. 



" Upon my conscience," said the American at 

 length, "these English are an astonishing people." 



" True, gallant colonel," replied Matuschevitz, 

 laughing. '' But since when have you discovered the 

 fact, or what now moves your admiration?" 



"It is not admiration," answered Percy gravely, 

 " but astonishment. Though after all there is some- 

 thing almost admirable in the method and regularity 

 of all this. But to think that all these men, the rich- 

 est in this land of riches, should annually leave their 

 own demesnes, each larger than a German principal- 

 ity, their country-houses more magnificent than an 

 Italian palazzo, to come and winter in little cottages 

 at which a New York merchant would turn up his 

 nose, while they lodge their horses in stables and 

 their hounds in kennels equal to foreign palaces !" 



" There is something in what you say, colonel. 

 Whatever an Englishman thinks it worth while to do 

 at all, he thinks it worth while to do well. Field 

 sports are the natural taste of every Englishman, 

 from a peer of the realm to the cadger in his cart, or 

 the tailor on his shop-board ; and whatever science 

 can effect, experience substantiate, or wealth procure, 

 that is brought to bear upon the pursuit. I have no 

 hesitation in saying, Fairfax, that there are a hun- 

 dred stud-grooms, farriers, veterinary surgeons and the 

 like, who have devoted more time to the anatomical 

 and physical study of their patients, the dog and 

 horse ; who understand their diseases better, and reap 



