42 EACECOURSE AND COVERT SIDE. 



been for a turn this morning, uniformly placid as 

 his disposition was. 



Cobb had a practical head, and did not pro- 

 pose to break the neck by which it was attached 

 to his body. When, therefore, the harrier busi- 

 ness was first talked of he sent for his groom, and 

 after discussing the question of horses, ended by 

 asking him what wages he was receiving. 



*' Sixty pounds, sir," rephed the man. 



'' Well, then, I'll give you eighty ; but mind 

 — if I come off, you go ! " Cobb replied. 



Therefore, lest the sight of a hound should 

 awake some dormant feehug of gaiety in the old 

 hack, he was sent for a spin over the downs, and 

 throughout the day the master was attended by 

 his man or by his shadow. 



Another thing, too, was perplexing Cobb at 

 the time, but Wetherby was happily at hand. 



" I say — I say — I know there's no — no brush 

 to give away if we catch one — there's nothing of 

 that sort, is there ? Have I got to do anything 

 in particular, as master ? " Cobb asked frankly, 

 but with some hesitation and in a low tone. 

 He had received from his followers the deference 

 due to the master, and all having gone so well up 

 to now, he did not want to begin and make a 

 mess of it. Wetherby explained what happens 

 when a hare is killed ; and very soon the downs 



