132 



" but a workman ; a good 'un across country, in fact." His lordship 

 working his arms as if he was going to set-to himself. 



"Oh, a first-rate man \— first-rate man!" replied Jawleyford; 

 11 beat them all at Laverick Wells." 



" I thought so," observed his lordship; adding to himself, " then 

 Jack shall take the conceit out of him." 



" Jack ! " holloaed he over his shoulder to his friend, who was 

 jogging a little behind; "Jack!" repeated he, "that Mr. Some- 

 thing—" 



"Sponge!" observed Jawleyford, with an emphasis. 



" That Mr. Sponge," continued his lordship, " is a stranger in the 

 country : have the kindness to take care of him. You know what 

 I mean ? " 



"Just so," replied Jack; "I'll take care of him." 



" Most polite of your lordship, I'm sure," said Jawleyford, with 

 a low bow, and laying his hand on his breast. " I can assure you 

 I shall never forget the marked attention I have received from your 

 lordship this day." 



" Thank you for nothing," grunted his lordship to himself.- 



Bump, bump; trot, trot; jabber, jabbsr, on they went as before. 



They had now got to the cover, Tickler Gorse, and ere the last 

 horseman had reached the last angle of the long hill, Frostyface was 

 rolling about on foot in the luxuriant evergreen; now wholly visible, 

 now all but OTerhead, like a man buffeting among the waves of the 

 sea. Save Frosty's cheery voice encouraging the invisible pack to 

 "wind him!" and "rout him out!" an injunction that the shaking 

 of the gorse showed they willingly obeyed, and an occasional excla- 

 mation from Jawleyford, of "Beautiful ! beautiful ! — never saw better 

 hounds ! — can't be a finer pack! " not a sound disturbed the stillness 

 of the scene. The waggoners on the road stopped their wains, the 

 late noisy ploughmen leaned vacantly on their stilts, the turnip-pullers 

 stood erect in air, and the shepherds' boys deserted the bleating 

 flocks ; — all wa3 life and joy and liberty — " Liberty, equalitv, and 

 foxhunt-ity ! " 



" Yo — i — cks, wind him ! Y — o — o — icks! rout him out!" went 

 Frosty ; occasionally varying the entertainment with a loud crack of 

 his heavy whip, when he could get upon a piece of rising ground to 

 clear the thong. 



" Tally-ho I " screamed Jawleyford, hoisting the Bumperkin 

 Yeomanry cap in the air. " Tally-ho ! " repeated he, looking trium- 

 phantly round, as much as to say, " What a clever boy am I ! " 



" Hold your noise ! " roared Jack, who was posted a little below. 

 " Don't you see it's a hare ? " added he, amidst the uproarious mirth 

 of the company. 



" I haven't your great staring specs on, or I should have seen he 



