A meeting of the Mangeysterne hunt was called at the sign of the Thirsty Freeman in Swillingford--Sir Charles Figgs, Knight--a large-promising but badly paying subscriber--in the chair, when it was proposed and carried unanimously that Mr.Puffington was eminently qualified for the mastership of the hunt, and that it be offered to him accordingly.

Puff 'bit.' He recalled his early exploits with 'Mostyn and old Beaufort,' and resolved that the hunt had taken a right view of his abilities.

In coming to this decision he, perhaps, was not altogether uninfluenced by a plausible subscription list, which seemed about equal to the ordinary expenses, supposing that any reliance could be placed on the figures and calculations of Sir Charles.
All those, however, who have had anything to do with subscription lists--and in these days of universal testimonializing who has not ?--well know that pounds upon paper and pounds in the pocket are very different things.

Above all Puff felt that he was a new man in the country, and that taking the hounds would give him weight.
The 'Mangeysterne dogs' then began to 'look up'; Mr.Puffington took to them in earnest; bought a 'Beckford,' and shortened his military stirrups to a hunting seat..