hat he should retire. "I think so," said Mr. Jawstock. "The
proposition you have made can be discussed only in your absence."
Then the Major held a consultation with one of his friends, and after
that did retire.

When he was gone the real hubbub of the meeting commenced. There were
some there who understood the nature of Lord Silverbridge's feelings
in the matter. "He would be the last man in England to declare him
guilty," said Mr. Jawstock. "Whatever my lord says, he shan't ride
across my land," said a farmer in the background. "I don't think
any gentleman ever made a fairer proposition,--since anything was
anything," said a friend of the Major's, a gentleman who kept
livery stables in Long Acre. "We won't have him here," said another
farmer,--whereupon Mr. Topps shook his head sadly. "I don't think
any gentleman ought to be condemned without a 'earing," said one
of Tifto's admirers, "and where you're to get any one to hunt the
country like him, I don't know as any body is prepared to say."
"We'll manage that," said a young gentleman from the neighbourhood of
Bagshot, who thought that he could hunt the country himself quite as
well as Major Tifto. "He must go from here; that's the long and the
short of it," said Mr. Jawstock. "Put it to the vote, Mr. Jawstock,"
said the livery-stable keeper. Mr. Topps, who had had great
experience in public meetings, hereupon expressed an opinion that
they might as well go to a vote. No doubt he was right if the matter
was one which must sooner or later be decided in that manner.

Mr. Jawstock looked round the room trying to calculate what might
be the effect of a show of hands. The majority was with him; but he
was well aware that of this majority some few would be drawn away by
the apparent justice of Tifto's proposition. And what was the use of
voting? Let them vote as they might, it was out of the question that
Tifto should remain Master of the hunt. But the chairman had acceded,
and on such occasions it is difficult to go against the chairman.

Then there came a show of hands,--first for those who desired to
refer the matter to Lord Silverbridge, and afterwards for Tifto's
direct enemies,--for those who were anxious to banish Tifto out of
hand, without reference to any one. At last the matter was settled.
To the great annoyance of Mr. Jawstock and the farmers, the meeting
voted that Lord Silverbridge should be invited to give his opinion as
to the innocence or guilt of his la