effect, for forthwith there was a general rush
towards Watchorn, and it was only by rating and swinging his 'whop' about
that he prevented the pack from pawing, and perhaps downing him. At length,
having got them somewhat tranquillized, he set off on his return to the
stables, coaxing the shy hounds, and rating and rapping those that seemed
inclined to break away. Thus he managed to march into the stable-yard in
pretty good order, just as the house party arrived in the opposite
direction, attired in the most extraordinary and incongruous habiliments.
There was Bob Spangles, in a swallow-tailed, mulberry-coloured scarlet,
that looked like an old pen-wiper, white duck trousers, and lack-lustre
Napoleon boots; Captain Cutitfat, in a smart new 'Moses and Son's'
straight-cut scarlet, with bloodhound heads on the buttons, yellow-ochre
leathers, and Wellington boots with drab knee-caps; little Bouncey in a
tremendously baggy long-backed scarlet, whose gaping outside-pockets showed
that they had carried its late owner's hands as well as his handkerchief;
the clumsy device on the tarnished buttons looking quite as much like
sheep's-heads as foxes'. Bouncey's tight tweed trousers were thrust into a
pair of wide fisherman's boots, which, but for his little roundabout
stomach, would have swallowed him up bodily. Captain Quod appeared in a
venerable dresscoat of the Melton Hunt, made in the popular reign of Mr.
Errington, whose much-stained and smeared silk facings bore testimony to
the good cheer it had seen. As if in contrast to the light airiness of this
garment, Quod had on a tremendously large shaggy brown waistcoat, with horn
buttons, a double tier of pockets, and a nick out in front. With an unfair
partiality his nether man was attired in a pair of shabby old black, or
rather brown, dress trousers, thrust into long Wellington boots with brass
heel spurs. Captain Seedeybuck had on a spruce swallow-tailed green coat of
Sir Harry's, a pair of old tweed trousers of his own, thrust into long
chamois-leather opera-boots, with red morocco tops, giving the whole a very
unique and novel appearance. Mr. Orlando Bugles, though going to drive with
my lady, thought it incumbent to put on his jack-boots, and appeared in
kerseymere shorts, and a highly frogged and furred blue frock-coat, with
the corner of a musked cambric kerchief acting the part of a star on his
breast.

"Here comes old sixteen-string'd Jack!" exclaimed Bob Spangles, as hi