h, and,
resting a hand on Tom's horse's shoulder, whispers confidentially in his
ear. The pedestrian sportsman of the country, too, has something to say;
also a horse-breaker; while groups of awe-stricken children stand staring
at the mighty Tom, thinking him the greatest man in the world.

Railways and fox-hunting make most people punctual, and in less than five
minutes from the halting of the hounds by the Windmill, the various roads
leading up to it emit dark-coated grooms, who, dismounting, proceed to
brush off the mud sparks, and rectify any little derangement the horses or
their accoutrements may have contracted on the journey. Presently Mr.
Sponge, and such other gentlemen as have ridden their own horses on, cast
up, while from the eminence the road to Laverick Wells is distinctly
traceable with scarlet coats and flys, with furs and flaunting feathers.
Presently the foremost riders begin to canter up the hill, when

All around is gay, men, horses, dogs,
And in each smiling countenance appears
Fresh blooming health and universal joy.

Then the ladies mingle with the scene, some on horseback, some in flys, all
chatter and prattle as usual, some saying smart things, some trying, all
making themselves as agreeable as possible, and of course as captivating.
Some were in ecstasies at dear Miss Jumpheavy's ball--she was such a _nice_
creature--such a charming ball, and so well managed, while others were
anticipating the delights of Mrs. Tom Hoppey's, and some again were asking
which was Mr. Sponge. Then up went the eye-glasses, while Mr. Sponge sat
looking as innocent and as killing as he could. 'Dear me!' exclaimed one,
'he's younger than I thought.' 'That's him, is it?' observed another; 'I
saw him ride up the street'; while the propriety-playing ones praised his
horse, and said it was a beauty.

The hounds, which they all had come to see, were never looked at.

Mr. Waffles, like many men with nothing to do, was most unpunctual. He
never seemed to know what o'clock it was, and yet he had a watch, hung in
chains, and gewgaws, like a lady's chatelaine. Hunting partook of the
general confusion. He did not profess to throw off till eleven, but it was
often nearly twelve before he cast up. Then he would come up full tilt,
surrounded by 'scarlets,' like a general with his staff; and once at the
meet, there was a prodigious hurry to begin, equalled only by the eagerness
to leave off. On this auspicious day