He was dressed in a fine flowing, olive-green frock (made like a
dressing-gown), with a black velvet collar, having a gold embroidered
stag on each side, gilt stag-buttons, with rich embossed edges; an acre
of buff waistcoat, and a most antediluvian pair of bright yellow-ochre
buckskins, made by White, of Tarporley, in the twenty-first year of
the reign of George the Third; they were double-lashed, back-stiched,
front-stiched, middle-stiched, and patched at both knees, with a slit up
behind. The coat he had won in a bet, and the breeches in a raffle, the
latter being then second or third hand. His boots were airing before the
fire, consequently he displayed an amplitude of calf in grey worsted
stockings, while his feet were thrust into green slippers. "So glad to
see you"! said he; "here's a charming morning, indeed--regular southerly
wind and a cloudy sky--rare scenting it will be--think I could almost
run a stag myself. Come in--never mind your hat, hang it anywhere, but
don't make a noise. I stole away and left Mrs. J---- snoring, so won't
do to wake her, you know. By the way, you should see my hat;--Batsey,
fatch my hat out of the back parlour. I've set up a new green silk cord,
with a gold frog to fasten it to my button-hole--werry illigant, I
think, and werry suitable to the dress--quite my own idea--have a notion
all the Surrey chaps will get them; for, between you and me, I set the
fashions, and what is more, I sometimes set them at a leap too. But now
tell me, have you any objection to breakfasting in the kitchen?--more
retired, you know, besides which you get everything hot and hot,
which is what I call doing a bit of plisure." "Not at all," said the
Yorkshireman, "so lead the way"; and down they walked to the lower
regions.

It was a nice comfortable-looking place, with a blazing fire, half
the floor covered with an old oil-cloth, and the rest exhibiting the
cheerless aspect of the naked flags. About a yard and a half from the