G6 A COMPULSORY INVITATION, 



of dress, and a quart, at least, of the strongest Eau 

 de Cologne, to neutralise the effects of his long- 

 protracted visit to the kennels, before presuming 

 to present himself in a lady's drawing-room. 



To the same impeachment I must also plead 

 equally guilty. We were neither of us fit for any 

 company but our own ; but the Squire, as usual, 

 would not concede his point, and dine we must 

 with him, but we were promised all the aid his 

 house could afford, and at least half-an-hour to 

 prepare our toilet. The look of resignation with 

 which my poor old friend Codrington yielded to 

 his fate was piteous to behold. 



" Well," he exclaimed, " I suppose it must be 

 done; but I would rather go without my dinner for 

 a week than sit down with ladies in such a plight 

 as this." 



" Oh ! nonsense," cried the Squire, " my man 

 will soon set all that to rights, so come along," 



Having reached the Hall, the Squire rang the 

 bell, a footman appeared instantly, as if by magic, 

 at the summons. The orders were, " Send Mark- 

 ham here directly." 



Evcit footman — ititrat Markham. 



" Show these two gentlemen to their rooms, and 

 see they have everything they require in ten mi- 

 nutes — in short, a complete change of dress." 



