48 MR. W. CODRINGTON 



night at the house then occupied by him as a hunting- 

 box, near Warminster, we set out early the following 

 morning, in the expectation of enjoying a great treat by 

 looking over the kennels at Tedworth. 



Upon our arrival, the master was absent, but soon 

 expected home again, and in the meantime Dick Burton 

 ably performed his part, as master of the ceremonies, 

 by introducing us to the beauties of his harem. In com- 

 pany with this eminent professor of '' The Noble Science,*' 

 — ^who in all matters relating to the birth, parentage, 

 and education of fox-hounds, as well as their pedigrees, 

 was considered a perfect oracle, — the hours passed 

 rapidly away, and I was just urging upon my friend Cod- 

 rington the necessity of our departure, when the Squire, 

 having returned, and learnt who were in his kennels, 

 made his appearance, greeting us, as usual, with great 

 cordiality. A few of his particular favourites were again 

 called out for a closer inspection, which occupied another 

 hour, when dreading a dark ride home over the downs, 

 neither of us being particularly well acquainted with 

 the road, I was again obliged to interfere, and hint to 

 my deeply engrossed friend the expediency of our com- 

 mencing our homeward journey. To this the Squire 

 put a decided veto, by insisting we should stay and dine 

 with him. Codrington, being anxious to return home, 

 made every excuse, affirming he was not fit company, 

 in his present costume, to sit down with Dick Burton, 

 much less in the society of ladies ; and truly, from 

 handling the hounds so long, and by their rubbing them- 

 selves against his white corduroy trowsers, not to mention 

 a certain odora canum vis, imperceptibly perhaps, but 

 most unmistakably imparted to the said garments, he 

 certainly stood in need of a most complete change of 



