M.F.H.  BUOaiNSON  425

"  Ten  sliilliu's  is  only  bid !— any  advance  on  ten
shillin's  ?— going  for  ten  shillin's— anybody  give  more
than  ten  shillin's  1  can't  dwell !  must  be  sold— only  ten
shillin's  bid— third  and  last  time  for  ten  shillin's.  goin'
(tap),  gone."

"  Going  (tap),  gone  !  "  Ominous  words  !  What  a
thrill  they  send  through  one's  frame.  "  Going  (tap)
gone."  Oh,  dear,  who  shall  describe  the  feelings  of  poor
swaggering  Bugginson  thus  let  in  for  ten  couple  of
hungry-loolviug  hounds— four  or  five  and  twenty  inch
dogs !— Bugginson,  who  had  never  had  to  do  with  a  dog
of  any  sort  in  his  life,  suddenly  becoming  the  owner  of  a
pack  of  hounds— an  M.F.H.  like  his  master.  "  M.F.H.
Bugginson  presents  his  compliments  to  M.F.H.  Jor-
n.icks,"  &c.
"  Deuced  cheap,"  "  dog  cheap  !  "  exclaimed  his  now
exalted  companions.
■■  Very,"  simpered  Bugginson,  wishing  he  was  well  out
of  them.
'■  Where  to,  yer  'oner  ? "  now  demanded  a  ragged
Irishman,  wlio  had  seized  the  great  bunch  of  dogs  from
the  man  of  the  yard  as  they  came  from  the  rostrum.
"  Stop."  muttered  the  man  of  the  yard,  "the  gen'l'man
'ill  be  buyin'  some  more."

"  Will  he  ?  "  thought  Bugginson,  eyeing  the  unruly  lot
f)ulling  away  in  all  directions,  adding  to  himself.  "  Catch
me  at  that  game  again."

"  Take  tliem  to  the  '  Salutation,'  "  said  Bugginson
pompously,  "  and  tell  the  ostler  to  put  them  into  a
stable."

"  Half-a-croon."  yer  'oner!  "  demanded  the  man.
