or by her cup, or somewhere, and whoever can ’tice a fly to come to her sugar first, wins the wager, or whatever it is they play for.’

‘Five on ’em,’ as Leather said, being a hopeless number to extract any good from, Mr Sponge changed the subject by giving orders for the morrow.

Mr Sponge’s appearance being decidedly of the sporting order, and his horses maintaining the character, did not alleviate the agitated minds of the sporting beholders, ruffled as they were with the threatening, vapouring insinuations of the coachman-groom, Peter Leather. There is nothing sets men’s backs up so readily, as a hint that anyone is coming to take the ‘shine’ out of them across country. We have known the most deadly feuds engendered between parties who never spoke to each other by adroit go-betweens reporting to each what the other said, or, perhaps, did not say, but what the ‘go-betweens’ knew would so rouse the British lion as to make each ride to destruction if necessary.

‘He’s a varmint-looking chap,’ observed Mr Waffles, as the party returned from the railway station; ‘shouldn’t wonder if he can go -- dare say he’ll try -- shouldn’t wonder if he’s floored -- awfully stiff country this for horses that are not used to it -- most likely his are Leicestershire nags, used to fly -- won’t do here. If he attempts to take some of our big banked bullfinches in his stride, with a yawner on each side, will get into grief.’

‘Hang him,’ interrupted Caingey Thornton, ‘there are good men in all countries.’

‘So there are!’ exclaimed Mr Spareneck, the steeplechase rider.

‘I’ve no notion of a fellow lording it, because he happens to come out of Leicestershire,’ rejoined Mr Thornton.

‘Nor I!’ exclaimed Mr Spareneck.

‘Why doesn’t he stay in Leicestershire?’ asked Mr Hoppey, now raising his voice for the first time -- adding, ‘Who asked him here?’

‘Who, indeed?’ sneered Mr Thornton.

In this mood our friends arrived at the Imperial Hotel, where there was always a dinner the day before hunting -- a dinner that, somehow, was served up in Mr Waffles’s rooms, who was allowed the privilege of paying for all those who did not pay for themselves; rather a considerable number, we believe.

The best of everything being good enough for the guests, and profuse liberality the order of the day, the cloth generally disappeared before a contented audience, whatever humour they might have sat down in. As the least people can do who dine at an inn and don’t pay their own shot, is to drink the health of the man who does pay, Mr Waffles was always lauded and applauded to the skies -- such a master -- such a sportsman -- such knowledge -- such science -- such a pattern-card. On this occasion the toast was received with extra enthusiasm, for the proposer, Mr Caingey Thornton, who was desperately in want of a mount, after going the rounds of the old laudatory course, alluded to the threatened vapourings of the stranger, and expressed his firm belief that he would ‘meet with his match,’ a ‘taking of the bull by the horns,’ that met with very considerable favour from the wine-flushed party, the majority of whom, at that moment, made very ‘small,’ in their own minds, of the biggest fence that ever was seen.

There is nothing so easy as going best pace over the mahogany.

Mr Waffles, who was received with considerable applause, and patting of the table, responded to the toast in his usual felicitous style, assuring the company that he lived but for the enjoyment of their charming society, and that all the money in the world would be useless, if he hadn’t Laverick Wells to spend it in. With regard to the vapourings of a ‘certain gentleman,’ he thought it would be very odd if some of