68 Simpson's snipe 



the dishes under her chin, and advising her as to 

 what to eat, drink, and avoid. He narrated stories 

 of noble families with whom he was upon the most 

 intimate terms, and assured my wife that he was 

 quite startled by her extraordinary likeness to Lady 

 Sarah Macwhirter ; which so pleased Mrs S. that 

 later on she informed me that as Blossie was so 

 much better, she thought it would be more polite 

 to give Mr Simpson the blue bedroom. 



I found this ardent sportsman very much inclined 

 to dally in my lady's boudoir, in preference to taking 

 the field, and I encouraged this proclivity, in the 

 hope of escaping the shooting altogether, and thus 

 save the credit of my so-called preserves. But 

 here again I was doomed to disappointment. Mrs 

 S., who now began to become rather anxious about 

 the domestic arrangements, politely but firmly re- 

 minded him of the object of his visit, and insisted 

 upon our departing for the happy hunting-grounds 

 at once. And at length, when very reluctantly he 

 rose from the table, he helped himself to a stiff 

 glass of brandy-and-water, in order, as he stated, to 

 " steady his hand." 



I must confess that I was rather startled when 

 he announced his intention of shooting in his ulster. 

 The idea of dragging this long-tailed appendage 

 across ditches and over bogs appeared outre, espe- 



