KATES DAY WITH THE OLD HORSE 215 



would have been a happy man. Unfortunately, 

 circumstances, especially the bills connected with 

 the maintenance of a crack pack of fox-hounds, 

 were beginning to impress upon him more and 

 more the necessity for converting Miss Preece into 

 a connecting link between himself and her papa's 

 money bags. 



This was, roughly, the state of affairs on Monday, 

 November 2nd, 1885, the first regular meet of the 

 Bruisers for the season. 



It was a time-hoDoured custom that the first 

 meet should be held at the Hall, and though the 

 master of the house who had entertained them so 

 often was there no longer, still the house stood and 

 the custom remained. 



" I suppose you would hardly care to go to the 

 meet to-day, Dad ? " queried Kate at breakfast. 



" Not go to the meet, girl, after keeping the old 

 tryst so many years, why not ? " 



" Oh, I don't know, only I thought you might 

 not." 



" What, because another fellow provides the 

 sherry and is master at the Hall ? Of course I 

 don't like it, but providing he does not give the 

 men Hamburg stuff, I'll go and be thankful to him 

 for doin<£ what I can no longer afford to do. Put on 



