tragedy. Still the Beverley people were very anxious to have it, and they carried their way by one. The society give no money, but allow it, we believe, to come off in their yard. By way of a fresh difficulty, the Lincolnshire men intend to hold one at Lincoln, the week before, and the week before that the Royal Agricultural or rather the Manchester Committee try their hand. It is with the greatest difficulty that masters can be got to consent to send their hounds at all, and this unfortunate clash looks ill for the cause this summer. Lancashire might very well-not being a fox-hound county-have confined itself to harriers, beagles, otter hounds, smooth fox-terriers, and greyhounds, and had a capital show; and it seems hard that the Lincolnshire Society should virtually try and cut the throat of the Yorkshire. They would say, and we believe, do say that the Yorkshire should have given up the idea for a year, as the county was not quite in tune for it, but a thing once given up is hard to revive, more especially against intestine opposition. The Yorkshire sorely need it as the spectacle of the Wednesday morning, as the four-year-old and upwards hunter contest is of the Thursday. The fact is, one good hound show a year is ample, and Yorkshire took it up so promptly when the Cleveland dropped it, that it has the first claim to support.

The Yorkshire show has as usual a great list of horse classes, and out of the thirty, just one-third are for hunters. Their prizes reach £316 besides the 100 guinea plate for the hunter from four years to eight years old best calculated to carry 14st. over Holderness. In the adjudication of this cup, two masters of fox-hounds will assist the judges. We don't know whether they intend to test them over a drain, but it was a saying of the late Mr. Bower, that no horse need come into Holderness, unless it could jump seventeen feet of water. Those deep drains are not like ordinary streams, for in nine cases out of ten if the horse doesn't funk the man does. The five-year-old hunters are as usual in a 12st. and a 14st. class, but 10lb. more is allotted to the latter, and the only regulation as to breeding is that they must be by a thorough-bred horse. In the six-year-old hunter class there is no restriction either as to breeding or weight, but in the Holderness Cup particular attention is to be paid to "breeding and quality."

The Agricultural Hall come out very munificently for hunters, and give a 25 guinea medal for the best hunter in the first four classes, which receive £365 in the gross. "Fine action and quality essential" is added as a rider to the riding-horse class, which must exceed fifteen-two, while cover hacks and roadsters, and single-harness horses are not to exceed that height. There are two classes for park hacks and ladies hacks, one not exceeding fifteen-two, and the other not exceeding fifteen-one. The park cobs (high steppers), are not to exceed 14 hands. This year, in fact, much more pains seems to have been taken so as to get uniformity in the classes. There are two prizes for the trotting sires, but only one of £50 for the thorough-bred one; and the pony stallions may not exceed thirteen hands. Among the extra classes, we find "a well appointed tandem of horses or ponies," and "a four-in-hand of ponies." The "new rule" is to the effect, that "no exhibitor can show more than four horses, unless they are animals

of extraordinary merit. Breeders and farmers who make hunters will have a preference for stalls in case the entry exceeds the accommodation of the Hall." It perhaps would have been better if " a hard and fast line" had been drawn and each exhibitor limited to three. There is a good deal of truth in "the postscript," which runs thus: "The manager after five year's experience, ventures to tell his friends amongst farmers, that they are likely to be disappointed if they ask dealer's prices for even their best horses. Dealers gave credit, chop, and exchange to meet the demands of their customers, besides having to bear the expenses of establishments in town and country. Horses at the Agricultural Hall are sold for cash. At the five previous shows, exhibitors have frequently had to take horses home, because they asked on the first day twice the price they were willing to take on the last." It is well known that the fact of the Prince of Wales arriving has sent up prices all round the building, and horses and ponies have been priced to His Royal Highness eighty per cent. beyond what would have been named to an ordinary purchaser, as if royalty and bullion were convertible terms. Royalty pays a market price and no more, as some great tradesmen have found to their cost when they had to haul down their gilt lion and unicorn, as a punishment for their extortions. It is proposed to introduce a water jump this year.

The story of the sale of the vixen and cubs at Newmarket is, as far as we can hear, on this wise: They were dug out at first along with the dog-fox at Cheveley Green, which is occupied by a Mr. Allison. The old ones were chained up in the stable with the cubs, while the master of the hounds was communicated with. The dog-fox broke his chain, got away and was shot, and the keeper, without more ado, took the vixen and cubs to Newmarket, and having a frugal mind first showed his charges at a penny a head in the cart and then sold them for £6 10s. How Mr. Allison explains his keeper acting without his orders, when the master of the hounds had been written to, we know not. It would have taken him all his time to explain if he had been in the market that day, as the Suffolk farmers were most indignant at the whole thing. There seems to have been some keeper treachery elsewhere. A farmer in the same neighbourhood, who was anxious to save the cubs of an outlying vixen which had been on his farm for three seasons, went to dig her out, and found her lying dead at the mouth of the earth poisoned by a rat. On digging into the earth, three more cubs were found lying dead, but the other five of the litter were saved. Not many miles from there, a sow badger was dug out two or three years since, and carried to a barn, about two fields from the cover, where she was confined in a box. In the course of the night, she escaped both out of the box and the barn and it transpired afterwards that the boar badger had scented her in her captivity, and had actually bitten his way into her and "let her go free.

GUY MAY;

OR

BORN то BAD LUCK.

BOOK THE THIRD.

CHAP. III.

A DAY ON THE ROAD.

As the reader may easily imagine, the noise of slamming up the window had the instantaneous and unintentional effect of thoroughly disturbing my precious charge, more especially as she caught the echo of the oath that accompanied it.

"Good gracious, dear Guy," she anxiously exclaimed, " is there anything the matter? What has happened to put you out so?"

66

Why, to tell you the truth, Agnes,' I calmly replied, with feigned laughter, "I have been troubled with a nightmare, a living one, in the shape of an old lunatic, who I was stupid enough to admit here under false pretences. The guard was to blame, for he knew his customer, and should never have taken the liberty of asking me to let him get in."

"Why, Guy, dearest," returned Agnes, with an air of considerable alarm, What are you talking about? admit who? let who in? Surely, there has been no one here. You are not quite awake, dear, are you?" she playfully inquired.

I then explained to her all that had really happened, excepting the purport of our conversation, and his disagreeable story of his own adventures at Gretna. Being as it were woke up for the night, thoroughly roused, there was nothing for it but to devote myself to the attention promoted by the duties of that true love, the current of which ran so smoothly. There naturally arose under the circumstances during this affectionate tête à téte, speculations as to the state of affairs at our respective homes. For my own family I had no fears, as I reasonably imagined that no doubt Mr. Layhard, so strict a man of his word, had smoothed the rough edge of my parents' and sisters' uneasiness, by acquainting them of my safety and intentions. With respect to the fury of the irascent colonel and the ridiculed captain, his aidecamp to the Court of Cupid, in Chancery, whatever were my own feelings and I own I had certain misgivings with regard to their giving chase to us -nevertheless, I treated it lightly and jocularly, and impressed, in the most persuasive manner, my timid companion with the absolute necessity of not looking back, for that as soon as we were securely married, matters would quickly begin to balance themselves without our worrying about what now could not be helped. It was with some difficulty

occasionally that I could pacify her fears; however, I ultimately succeeded in bringing her again to that state of mental firmness and selfreliance which was absolutely requisite to uphold her through the yet long and wearisome journey. Throwing herself into my arms, I pressed her again and again to my heart, and by dint of the tenderest expressions and assurances of safety, and the soothing influence of my hitherto palpable good management, she ended by talking herself, like a spoilt child, once more into a calm and refreshing sleep. Taking advantage of these happy moments of forgetfulness of her troubles, I drew forth my pocket pistol, and applied it, not to my brains, but to my mouth, the effect of which was that the curtain almost immediately fell over the dangers and chances of the coming day, which I could perceive was then fast approaching dawn.

"Will you please to take any breakfast, sir?" was the first salutation that brought me to a knowledge of my positive exist

ence.

This kind inquiry was addressed to me by the guard, whom I directly perceived was not the same one that had hitherto attended upon us; he was the "relieved guard." The original coachman, also, had been succeeded by a brother whip; consequently, in order to make their better acquaintance, I got out of the mail and entered the inn. We were all instantly on the most friendly footing; but I was not such a goose as not quickly to feel convinced by their obsequious and overacted civility that these fresh officials had been made aware of my position by their comrades who had had the first handling of me, and that we were being passed on from one to the other en route as speculative materials for unlimited pecuniary expectancies, probably all agreeing to share at the earliest opportunity the profits of a compulsory generosity-this system being then the customary attendant upon all who ventured on a "lover's leap" into Scotland. In order, therefore, to settle as quickly as possible their mercenary imaginings and £ s. d. dreamings, I drew them aside and presented them with three guineas between them; at which I distinctly heard them exchange winks, and was repaid with a profusion of humble bows and grateful smiles. I had evidently done the handsome, and had answered their great expectations.

"You will excuse me, sir," commenced the delighted guard, "but with many thanks for your kindness, speaking from experience in these little affairs, if I was you, sir, I wouldn't give the young lady any of that there tea and coffee stuff. Of course it aint for me to advise like, but cat-lap won't do to travel on; it won't do to sit still on; it won't bide quiet this sort of weather."

Feeling myself evidently in the hands of a practical man, I thanked him, and left the case to his better judgment.

"Well, sir, he advisingly answered, "I always recommends a basin of chopped bread, home-made if you can get it, because its wholesomer and sweeterer; then pour over it some boiling milk and cream, drop in a few lumps of sugar, and I'll be hanged if it won't do more to support nature than anything you can think of, especially if you accidentally throw a spoonful or two of the right sort of cordial on the top of it. Besides," he continued, with an assurance of his popular prescription's value, you can take it away inside the waggon with you, and en

joy it at your ease. right." "A very good thought," said I, "this cold morning, particularly as we stop so short a time; however, I will just go and see the young lady, and hear what she says to the arrangement, and tell you from the window if it is to her taste, and then you can do as you propose."

I'll look after the spoons and see them

Agnes, although not hungry, was extremely nervous and cold, and she cheerfully acknowledged that the proposed déjeuner was quite agreeable to her wishes.

Giving the signal of approbation to the guard, I congratulated myself and my helpless sufferer on the supposed success of my good intentions.

"Alas!" she replied, "I have taken cold and am fast losing my voice: perhaps the hot milk may-"

She suddenly ceased, and to my sorrow I perceived that she was unmistakeably breaking down. Daylight burst forth, bright, beautiful and dry: with it came no amendment in the symptoms, and my dearest Agnes was prostrate in the extreme, almost worn out by cold and fatigue. As the day advanced I became more cheerful; my own spirits, which had been much affected, rallied considerably, and I took advantage of the opportunity of changing horses to get out, and for a few stages to enjoy the open air and a cigar. Taking a seat behind the box I found myself in the company of three other passengers, who were so strikingly opposed to each other in respect to their ages, appearance, and manners, that I cannot help attempting to describe them.

tic

The gentleman occupying the "box seat" was a tall, thin, aristocraperson, of about fifty years of age, evidently much in the habit of travelling, and a good deal on the road; quite prepared for any emergency, weather of all sorts, or anything that might "turn up.' He was on excellent terms with the coachman, and practically understood and criticised the duties and responsibilities of a "waggoner." From the little I heard, I quickly concluded that he no doubt frequently indulged in the fancy for handling the ribbons." His tone of conversation was agreeably sporting, interspersed with numerous anecdotes, and quite devoid of the vulgarities of that peculiar slang then in vogue. I well remember his amusing account of the difficulties and danger, the "sea of troubles" that he got into on his first attempt, his début on the stage, and trying to hold "four by honours." How vainly he endeavoured to keep them together and make them share their work; how utterly hopeless he felt at finding his off leader was a determined kicker, and the near one a slug; how his wheelers would run over the pole, and how puzzled he was to accomplish the task set him by the experienced "old hand," of catching the whip-lash, holding the reins, and smoking a cigar at one and the same time.

The Jehu himself was a young man of prepossessing appearance, with mild manners, but quite a man of the world, making himself at home with every one, suiting himself to his various passengers by adapting his conversation and remarks to their dispositions and tempers in the most delightful manner: it was really surprising to find so much superficial or general knowledge in one of such an unvaried occupation. I believe the race to be extinct at the present day, certainly the opportunity for enjoying the humours of the road is long gone by;