s
brother-in-law, Sir Harry, came hitching and limping along, all strings,
and tapes, and ends, as usual, followed by Mr. Sponge in the strict and
severe order of sporting costume; double-stitched, back-stitched,
sleeve-strapped, pull-devil, pull-baker coat, broad corduroy vest with
fox-teeth buttons, still broader corded breeches, and the redoubtable
vinegar tops. "Now we're all ready!" exclaimed Bob, working his arms as if
anxious to be off, and giving a shrill shilling-gallery whistle with his
fingers, causing the stable-doors to fly open, and the variously tackled
steeds to emerge from their stalls.

"A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse!" exclaimed Miss Glitters,
running up as fast as her long habit, or rather Lady Scattercash's long
habit, would allow her. "A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse!"
repeated she, diving into the throng.

'White Surrey is saddled for the field,' replied Mr. Orlando Bugles,
drawing himself up pompously, and waving his right hand gracefully towards
her ladyship's Arab palfrey, inwardly congratulating himself that Miss
Glitters was going to be bumped upon it instead of him.

'Give us a leg up, Seedey!' exclaimed Lucy Glitters to the 'gent' of the
green coat, fearing that Miss Howard, who was a little behind, might claim
the horse.

[Illustration: MR. BUGLES GOES OUT HUNTING AGAIN]

Captain Seedeybuck seized her pretty little uplifted foot and vaulted her
into the saddle as light as a cork. Taking the horse gently by the mouth,
she gave him the slightest possible touch with the whip, and moved him
about at will, instead of fretting and fighting him as the clumsy,
heavy-handed Bugles had done. She looked beautiful on horseback, and for a
time riveted the attention of our sportsmen. At length they began to think
of themselves, and then there were such climbings on, and clutchings, and
catchings, and clingings, and gently-ings, and who-ho-ings, and
who-ah-ings, and questionings if 'such a horse was quiet?' if another
'could leap well?' if a third 'had a good mouth?' and whether a fourth
'ever ran away?'

'Take my port-stirrup up two 'oles!' exclaimed Captain Bouncey from the top
of high Hop-the-twig, sticking out a leg to let the groom do it.

The captain had affected the sea instead of the land service, while a
betting-list keeper, and found the bluff sailor character very taking.

'Avast there!' exclaimed he, as the groom ran the buckle up to the desired
hole. 'Now,' said h