But neither had the country nor the pace been
adapted to wheels, and the Senator and the Paragon were now
returning along the road towards Bragton. The fox had tried his old
earths at Impington High wood, and had then skulked back along the
outside of the covert. Had not one of the whips seen him he would
have been troubled no further on that day, a fact, which if it
could have been explained to the Senator in all its bearings, would
greatly have added to his delight. But Dick viewed him; and with
many holloas and much blowing of horns, and prayers from Captain
Glomax that gentlemen would only be so good as to hold their
tongues, and a full-tongued volley of abuse from half the field
against an unfortunate gentleman who rode after the escaping fox
before a hound was out of the covert, they settled again to their
business. It was pretty to see the quiet ease and apparent
nonchalance and almost affected absence of bustle of those who knew
their work,--among whom were especially to be named young Hampton,
and the elder Botsey, and Lord Rufford, and, above all, a
dark-visaged, long-whiskered, sombre, military man who had been in
the carriage with Lord Rufford, and who had hardly spoken a word to
any one the whole day. This was the celebrated Major Caneback, known
to all the world as one of the dullest men and best riders across
country that England had ever produced.
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