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'There's a man down! exclaimed a groom, who formed one of the group, as a dark-coated rider and horse measured their length on a pasture. 'It's Mr. Sparks, said another, adding, 'he's always rolling about. 'Lor', look at the parson! exclaimed a third, as Blossomnose was seen gathering his horse and setting up his shoulders preparatory to riding at a gate.
Fyle, Fossick, Blossomnose, Capon, Dribble, Hook, and others, were all run through his mind, without his thinking it prudent to attempt to fix a volunteer visit upon any of them. Many people he knew could pen polite excuses, who yet could not hit them off at the moment, especially in that great arena of hospitality the hunting-field. He went to bed very much perplexed.
The conversation got brisker and brisker: and before the cloth was drawn there was a very general clamour, in which all sorts of subjects seemed to be mixed each man addressing himself to his immediate neighbour; one talking of taxes another of tares a third, of hunting and the system of kennel a fourth, of the corn-laws old Blossomnose, about tithes Slapp, about timber and water-jumping Miller, about Collison's pills; and Guano, about anything that he could get a word edged in about.
'I'll lay a guinea Pacey doesn't hold money, exclaimed Guano. 'Done! exclaimed Parson Blossomnose. 'I'll bet it does, observed Charley Slapp. 'I'll take you, replied Mr. Miller. Then the hubbub of betting commenced, and raged with fury for a short time; some betting sovereigns, some half-sovereigns, other half-crowns and shillings, as to whether the hands of one or both held money.
The rest of the 'field' followed, the fall of the ground enabling them to see 'how thick Jawleyford was with my lord. Old Blossomnose, who, we should observe, had slipped away unperceived on Jawleyford's arrival, took a bird's-eye view from the rear. Naughty Blossom was riding the horse that ought to have gone in the 'chay' to Jawleyford Court.
Fossick, and several dark-coated horsemen and boys were congregated around. Jack had lost his spectacles, and Blossomnose his whip, and the countrymen were diving for them. 'Not hurt, I hope? said Mr. Puffington, in the most dandified tone of indifference, as he rode up to where Jack and Blossomnose were churning the water in their boots, stamping up and down, trying to get themselves warm.
'But what's happened you behind? what's happened you behind? asked Jack, as his lordship turned to the fire, and exhibited his docked tail. 'Oh, hang the coat! it's neither here nor there, replied his lordship; 'hat neither, he added, exhibiting its crushed proportions. 'Old Blossomnose did the coat; and as to the hat, I did it myself at least, old Daddy Longlegs and I did it between us.
There was Fyle, and Fossick, and Blossomnose, and Sparks, and Joyce, and Capon, and Dribble, and a few others, but neither Washball nor Puffington, nor any of the holiday birds. Precisely at ten, my lord, and his hounds, and his huntsman, and his whips, and his Jack, trotted round Farmer Springwheat's spacious back premises, and appeared in due form before the green rails in front.
'Oh, say nothin', replied Jack; 'we've nothin' to do with nobody but Puff, and we couldn't mention them without bringin' in our Flat Hat men too Blossomnose, Fyle, Fossick, and so on. Besides, it would spoil all to say that Guano was up people would say directly it couldn't have been much of a run if Guano was there.
'Most likely Guano again; indeed, I know he is, for I asked his groom if he was going home, and he said no; and Lumpleg, you may be sure, and possibly old Blossomnose, Slapp, and, very likely, young Pacey. 'Are they chaps with any "go" in them? shake their elbows, or anything of that sort? asked Sponge, working away as if he had the dice-box in his hand.
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