"But does not our earth-stopper, Mike Crouch, intend to play for it?" "I think not," rejoined our hero. "I asked him," continued he, "but he gave an evasive answer, and I conclude that he considers Joe more than a match for him.” « "I shall not interfere in the making of the matches," said the Squire, "but I should like to see those two try a fall together." "There's plenty of bone and sinew between them," remarked Tobias," although of very different mould." "Yes," said John Hardy, "Mike is an ungainly lad, and Joe's considered the handsomest fellow in the whole village, I'm told." "Such is his character among the maidens, I believe," returned our hero, laughing. "Who is that walking by the side of Mrs. Sykes?" inquired Tobias, as the huntsman's better half passed the hall at some little distance, supporting a lady dressed in deep mourning. The gait of the latter was faltering and weak, and she had all the appearance of being an invalid. "It's the lady who was taken ill opposite Job's house a few days since, I expect," replied our hero; "although," continued he, "I've not seen her before." "Without doubt it is," said John Hardy. "Our worthy friend the rector, who has visited her daily since her indisposition, informed me that she is a most amiable and Christianlike lady." "We must make her acquaintance," returned the Squire," and learn whether we can be of service to her. Does she intend staying in the neighbourhood for any length of time?" “That I haven't heard," replied John Hardy, "but she, as yet, is too unwell to leave." "What is her name?" asked the Squire. 66 Weston," responded John Hardy, “and a widow, as I am told." "I wonder if she's any relation to the Turniptop Westons, of Shrewsbury," remarked Tobias Smith, by way of a random, imaginary 66 speculation. They are a family of unequivocal status in society, and with whom I have the honour of acquaintanceship." "If she should prove to be an off-shoot of the Turniptops," observed the Squire, smiling, 66 you had better pioneer the way for our introduction." 66 "Undoubtedly," rejoined Tobias, running his fingers quickly through his strong, bushy locks. Undoubtedly; I'll take an early opportunity of solving the matter as quickly as possible, by calling at the huntsman's cottage to-morrow morning." CHAPTER VII. By how much unexpected, by so much FROM all points of the compass, in groups, throngs, and parties, holyday folk in holyday gear wended their way through the Hall-park, much to the discomfiture of its countless denizens. Some old, toothless hunters, who, having done their duty, were turned out for the remainder of their natural lives to range over the broad acres of emerald turf as it suited the bent of their inclination, pricked their ears and stood snorting at the uninterrupted stream of human forms in a perfect labyrinth of wonder. Some deer, too—a fat, panting herd-swept from one part of the enclosure to the other, and tossed their branched antlers and stamped the ground with their cloven feet in anger at the cause of their unusual disturbance. Hares and rabbits skipped from their forms and flashed their scuts in the high-topped fern, seeking estreats in the depths of the covert. Gaily-plumed pheasants startled many a wayfarer as they rose from cozy nooks 'mid twining briar and bramble, and the dove and wood-pigeon whir-r'd from the dark-green shades of the fir, affrighted at the interlopers to their solitudes. Rook cawed to rook, and many a sentinel, perched upon a topmost bough, to give intelligence of approaching danger, spread his broad jet-black wings and hoarsely croaked his fears and disquietude. "I tell ye what it is, Job," said the worthy host of the Lion, as he rolled his plethoric body by the side of the huntsman, some few yards behind Jem and his daughter Nancy. "I tell ye what it is," repeated he, measuring his |