society; for it's my belief they never did you much good."
"May be not; but we'd a merry time of it, too, though mingled with sorrow and pain, as Lowborough knows to his cost—Ha, ha!" and while he was laughing at the recollection of Lowborough's troubles, my uncle came and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Come my lad!" said he. "Are you too busy making love to my niece, to make war with the pheasants?—First of October remember!—Sun shines out—rain ceased—even Boarham's not afraid to venture in his waterproof boots; and Wilmot and I are going to beat you all. I declare, we old 'uns are the keenest sportsmen of the lot!"
"I'll shew you what I can do to-day, however," said my companion. "I'll murder your birds by wholesale, just for keeping me away from better company than either you or them."
And so saying he departed; and I saw no more of him till dinner. It seemed a weary time: I wonder what I shall do without him."
