A TOUCH OF THE YELLOWS 167 



invalid, " except that I believe it is neither more nor 

 less than a touch of the yellows which the puppies get 

 sometimes when they come in from walk ; for my eyes 

 were as yellow as a guinea a few days ago, and I feel 

 deuced queer still." 



" Nothing more likely, old boy ; and if you don't 

 take to the pigskin again, and pretty quickly, the doctors 

 will run you to ground in less than six months. Your 

 country is still vacant, so take my advice, and get to- 

 gether some hounds without a day's delay." 



My friend's humour jumping in the same direction, 

 the arrival of BelVs Life was impatiently looked for 

 (although the public sales had passed), when, to his great 

 delight, a small pack was advertised for immediate 

 disposal, which had been hunting fox and hare, and had 

 been given up suddenly, in consequence of disagreement 

 among the subscribers. With the next dawn his whipper- 

 in (who, fortunately for him, had not yet got a place) 

 was despatched to view the lot, and if possible, and not 

 over-dear, to purchase them. Jem's return was, of course, 

 anxiously expected ; and he was immediately, on reaching 

 home, ushered into his master's presence. 



" Well, Jem," asked the old Squire, " what have 

 you done ? " 



" Struck a bargain, sir, and bought them at once, 

 out and out." 



" The deuce you have ! " 



" Yes, sir — I know'd they couldn't be very dear at 

 the price. Twenty couples for twenty-five pounds ; 

 so I clenched the business without more words, and we be 

 to fetch 'em away by to-morrow, or next day at furthest." 



" Well, that won't hurt us any way, Jem ; but what 

 are the hounds like ? " 



