84 How I Became a Sportsman. 



the squire might like to try a bit of hve bait- 

 ing." But I knew perfectly well that Robert 

 had set his heart upon these said trimmers 

 being the leading article. 



Arrived at the lodge gates, which I found 

 already opened for me^ I quickly drove up the 

 fine old avenue^ and found the squire, as I 

 expected, all impatience, waiting for me at the 

 hall door. 



" Come, Jack, make haste ! breakfast has 

 been waiting this half- hour, and we ought to 

 have started by this time." It was barely eight 

 o'clock then, but he was always very fidgety to 

 get off when there was any fishing or shooting 

 to be done. The ladies of the family were not 

 yet down, so we made short work of what old 

 Jorrocks calls a knife and fork breakfast, that 

 is to say, it was substantial. We were soon in 

 the squire's wagonette, with his keeper Abia 

 (corrupted into Bia, as he was always called) to 

 manage the punt. I was not sorry to see a good- 

 sized hamper, which seemed to require a goodish 

 bit of lifting, put in by the latter, and away we 

 started, having about eight miles to drive. I 

 offered the squire a cigar, which he declined, 

 but he pulled out, filled, and lighted a genuine 



