ing more was said between
them on the subject.

Up in town Silverbridge spent two or three days pleasantly enough,
while a thunderbolt was being prepared for him, or rather, in truth,
two thunderbolts. During these days he was much with Tregear; and
though he could not speak freely of his own matrimonial projects,
still he was brought round to give some sort of assent to the
engagement between Tregear and his sister. This new position which
his friend had won for himself did in some degree operate on his
judgment. It was not perhaps that he himself imagined that Tregear as
a member of Parliament would be worthier, but that he fancied that
such would be the Duke's feelings. The Duke had declared that Tregear
was nobody. That could hardly be said of a man who had a seat in
the House of Commons;--certainly could not be said by so staunch a
politician as the Duke.

But had he known of those two thunderbolts he would not have enjoyed
his time at the Beargarden. The thunderbolts fell upon him in the
shape of two letters which reached his hands at the same time, and
were as follows:

The Bobtailed Fox. Egham. 18th December.

MY LORD,

At a meeting held in this house to-day in reference to the
hunting of the Runnymede country, it was proposed that the
management of the hounds should be taken out of the hands
of Major Tifto, in consequence of certain conduct of which
it is alleged that he was guilty at the last Doncaster
races.

Major Tifto was present, and requested that your
Lordship's opinion should be asked as to his guilt. I do
not know myself that we are warranted in troubling your
Lordship on the subject. I am, however, commissioned by
the majority of the gentlemen who were present to ask
you whether you think that Major Tifto's conduct on that
occasion was of such a nature as to make him unfit to be
the depositary of that influence, authority, and intimacy
which ought to be at the command of a Master of Hounds.

I feel myself bound to inform your Lordship that the hunt
generally will be inclined to place great weight upon your
opinion; but that it does not undertake to reinstate Major
Tifto, even should your opinion be in his favour.

I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient Servant,

JEREMIAH JAWSTOCK.

Juniper Lodge, Staines.

Mr. Jawstock, when he had written this letter, was proud of his own
la