H. J. Halliday, b. H. C. Trentham 204 R. C. Dimsdale, l.b.w. b. T. S. M. Trentham 7 J. F. S. Oldknow, run out 101 W. Grimston, not out 86 J. G. Merryweather, b. H. C. Trentham 28 Hon. J. Blenkinsop-Comfort, not out 59 Extras 33 ---- Total for four wickets 518 _Hickory did not bat._ CHAPTER XI Cupid puts his Pads on I WENT home, and passed an unquiet night. I like to think myself a person of a sturdy unemotional habit whom neither men nor affairs can discompose; but I’m certain that every time I fell into a doze, I was dreaming of brown holland. And when I lay awake I was thinking of brown holland. It is very chastening when the proud are smitten in their self-esteem. Hitherto I had held my invincibility to be quite glorious. The most fanciful dressing of the hair, the most fearful wonderful “creation,” the most ingratiating small talk, I delighted to defy. It pleased me to think, that I had a mind as much above cut, colour, carriage and address, and whole magazines of blandishment, as any this side professed misogyny. And I was reasonably gratified with this high behaviour. Be sure it is no little thing for a young and pretty eligible bachelor to look, to admit, and yet to remain impervious. There was some consensus of opinion I believe amongst the manias of the county that young Mr. Dimsdale really ought to settle down. You should know that young Mr. Dimsdale having completed his education by a rather liberal course of globe-trotting, had come home at last to play the squire at his late father’s little place in the country. Therefore his late father’s little place was desiring a mistress; his late father’s little income was clamouring to be spent. His late father had been in trade it is true--he had boiled soap, to be precise; Dimsdale’s Dirt Defier, don’t you know? But young Mr. Dimsdale himself was so much the thing, that these charitable ladies would never be able to forgive themselves if through any fault of theirs he married something “impossible”--an actress say, or one of those dreadful pushing pig-sticking Americans! I struck a match, and looked at the time. Twenty minutes past two. I sat up in bed, and said confidentially to the bedroom furniture: “Damn brown holland!” It must have been somewhat embarrassing for the bedroom furniture I know, but then the thing was getting serious. I was beginning to fear that something had gone wrong with the works.