94 SIR wheeler's indignation. 



Sir Wheeler " demittit auriculas, lit iniquce men- 

 tis asellus cum gravius dorso subiit onus^' i. e., An- 

 glice, he winced a good deal on being thus assailed, 

 and jogging down to where I was sitting on horse- 

 back under a tree, expressed his grievance very 

 indignantly, declaring his intention of returning 

 home directly. 



*' Pooh, nonsense !" I said, '' you must make 

 allo-wances for a man's warmth of temper such 

 a hot piping morning as this," 



" Would you like to be called a confounded old 

 fool?" asked the still chafing baronet. 



" Perhaps not," was my reply ; " but I shall be 

 called a young one pretty soon, if we sit talking 

 here together, and head the fox again ; so you take 

 my position under the tree, where there is shade, 

 and a little breeze to cool your excitement, whilst 

 I go lower down." 



I had not moved long to my new place of ob- 

 servation before I viewed the fox stealing stealthily 

 over the road, and jumping the fence, he went 

 away across the next field; some five minutes 

 after, the hounds feathered out into the road a 

 few yards above the line of the fox, and Lord 

 Ducie with them. 



" Seen the fox, Squire ?" (the name by which 

 he generally called me) he asked very quickly. 



