’There was a tall man in black, on a good-looking young brown horse, rather rash at his fences, but a fine style of goer.’

‘What!’ exclaimed Jawleyford, ’man in drab cords and jack-boots, with the brim of his hat rather turning upwards?’

‘Just so,’ replied Sponge; ‘and a double ribbon for a hat-string.’

‘That’s Master Blossomnose,’ observed Jawleyford, scarcely able to contain his indignation.  ‘That’s Master Blossomnose,’ repeated he, taking a back hand at the port in the excitement of the moment.  ’More to his credit if he were to stay at home and attend to his parish,’ added Jawleyford; meaning, it would have been more to his credit if he had fulfilled his engagement to him that evening, instead of going out hunting in the morning.

The two then sat silent for a time, Sponge seeing where the sore place was, and Robert Foozle, as usual, seeing nothing.  ‘Ah, well,’ observed Jawleyford, at length breaking silence, ’it was unfortunate you went this morning.  I did my best to prevent you—­told you what a long way it was, and so on.  However, never mind, we will put all right to-morrow.  His lordship, I’m sure, will be most happy to see you.  So help yourself,’ continued he, passing the ‘Wintle,’ ’and we will drink his health and success to fox-hunting.’

Sponge filled a bumper and drank his lordship’s health, with the accompaniment as desired; and turning to Robert Foozle, who was doing likewise, said, ‘Are you fond of hunting?’

‘Yes, I’m fond of hunting,’ replied Foozle.

‘But you don’t hunt, you know, Robert,’ observed Jawleyford.

‘No, I don’t hunt,’ replied Robert.

The ‘green seal’ being demolished, Jawleyford ordered a bottle of the ‘other,’ attributing the slight discoloration (which he did not discover until they had nearly finished the bottle) to change of atmosphere in the outer cellar.  Sponge tackled vigorously with the new-comer, which was better than the first; and Robert Foozle, drinking as he spoke, by pattern, kept filling away, much to Jawleyford’s dissatisfaction, who was compelled to order a third.  During the progress of its demolition, the host’s tongue became considerably loosened.  He talked of hunting and the charms of the chase—­of the good fellowship it produced:  and expatiated on the advantages it was of to the country in a national point of view, promoting as it did a spirit of manly enterprise, and encouraging our unrivalled breed of horses; both of which he looked upon as national objects, well worthy the attention of enlightened men like himself.

Jawleyford was a great patron of the chase; and his keeper, Watson, always had a bag-fox ready to turn down when my lord’s hounds met there.  Jawleyford’s covers were never known to be drawn blank.  Though they had been shot in the day before, they always held a fox the next—­if a fox was wanted.