‘Thank you, Mr Brown Boots!’ exclaimed his lordship, as, by dint of bitting and spurring, Sponge at length worked the beast round, and came sneaking back in the face of the whole field. ‘Thank you, Mister Brown Boots,’ repeated he, taking off his hat, and bowing very low. ‘Very much obleged to you, Mr Brown Boots. Most particklarly obleged to you, Mr Brown Boots,’ with another low bow. ‘Hang’d obleged to you, Mr Brown Boots! Damn you, Mr Brown Boots!’ continued his lordship, looking at Sponge as if he would eat him.

‘Beg pardon, sir,’ blurted Sponge; ‘my horse -- ’

‘Hang your horse!’ screamed his lordship; ‘it wasn’t your horse that headed the fox, was it?’

‘Beg pardon -- couldn’t help it; I --’

‘Couldn’t help it. Hang your helps -- you’re always doing it, Mr; You could stay at home, sir -- I s’pose, sir -- couldn’t you, sir?’

Sponge was silent.

‘See, sir!’ continued his lordship, pointing to the mute pack now following the huntsman, ‘you’ve lost us our fox, sir -- yes, sir, lost us our fox, sir. D’ye call that nothin’, sir? If you don’t, I do, you perpendicular- looking Puseyite pig-jobber! By Jove! you think because I’m a lord, and can’t swear, or use coarse language, that you may do what you like -- but I’ll take my hounds home, sir -- yes, sir, I’ll take my hounds home, sir.’ So saying, his lordship roared HOME to Frostyface; adding, in an undertone to the first whip, ‘bid him go to Furzing Field gorse.’