k's heavy person and great boots, as he floundered through
the Virginian woods, hunting, as they called it, with a pack of dogs
gathered from various houses, with a pack of negroes barking as loud as
the dogs, and actually shooting the deer when they came in sight of him.
"Great God, sir!" says Mr. Braddock, puffing and blowing, "what
would Sir Robert have said in Norfolk, to see a man hunting with a
fowling-piece in his hand, and a pack of dogs actually laid on to a
turkey!"

"Indeed, Colonel, you are vastly comical this afternoon!" cries Madam
Esmond, with a neat little laugh, whilst her son listened to the story,
looking more glum than ever. "What Sir Robert is there at Norfolk? Is he
one of the newly arrived army-gentlemen?"

"The General meant Norfolk at home, madam, not Norfolk in Virginia,"
said Colonel Washington. "Mr. Braddock had been talking of a visit to
Sir Robert Walpole, who lived in that county, and of the great hunts the
old Minister kept there, and of his grand palace, and his pictures at
Houghton. I should like to see a good field and a good fox-chase at home
better than any sight in the world," the honest sportsman added with a
sigh.

"Nevertheless, there is good sport here, as I was saying," said young
Esmond, with a sneer.

"What sport?" cries the other, looking at him.

"Why, sure you know, without looking at me so fiercely, and stamping
your foot, as if you were going to charge me with the foils. Are you not
the best sportsman of the country-side? Are there not all the fish
of the field, and the beasts of the trees, and the fowls of the
sea--no--the fish of the trees, and the beasts of the sea--and the--bah!
You know what I mean. I mean shad, and salmon, and rock-fish, and
roe-deer, and hogs, and buffaloes, and bisons, and elephants, for what I
know. I'm no sportsman."

"No, indeed," said Mr. Washington, with a look of scarcely repressed
scorn.

"Yes, I understand you. I am a milksop. I have been bred at my mamma's
knee. Look at these pretty apron-strings, Colonel! Who would not like to
be tied to them? See of what a charming colour they are! I remember when
they were black--that was for my grandfather."

"And who would not mourn for such a gentleman?" said the Colonel, as the
widow, surprised, looked at her son.

"And, indeed, I wish my grandfather were here, and would resurge, as he
promises to do on his tombstone; and would bring my father, the Ensign,
with him."

"Ah, Harry!" cr