Between five and six he went
home, and at half-past seven appeared at the Bush attired in his
best. He never yet had sat down with a lord, and his mind misgave
him a little; but he had spirit enough to look about for
Runciman,--who, however, was not to be seen.
Sir George was not there, but the party had been made up, as
regarded the dinner, by the addition of Captain Glomax, who had
returned from hunting. Captain Glomax was in high glee, having
had,--as he declared,--the run of the season. When a Master has
been deserted on any day by the choice spirits of his hunt he is
always apt to boast to them that he had on that occasion the run of
the season. He had taken a fox from Impington right across to
Hogsborough, which, as every one knows, is just on the borders of
the U.R.U., had then run him for five miles into Lord Chiltern's
country, and had killed him in the centre of the Brake Hunt, after
an hour and a half, almost without a check. "It was one of those
straight things that one doesn't often see now-a-days," said
Glomax.
"Any pace?" asked Lord Rufford.
"Very good, indeed, for the first forty minutes. I wish you had all
been there. It was better fun I take it than shooting rabbits."
Then Hampton put the Captain through his facings as to time and
distance and exact places that had been passed, and ended by
expressing an opinion that he could have kicked his hat as fast on
foot.
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