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146 ship this instant; for, in point of pleasure, there’s no comparison between the jolly huntsman’s life and the formal life of the town.”

“Oh! thou dear kind lad,” said Katharine, whilst all the clouds dispersed from her forehead and her eyes swam in a shower of glittering tears, “if thou wilt do this for my sake, then do so and speak to my father without delay—before he can possibly make any promise to Robert.”

“Stay, Kate: I’ll go after him this moment into the forest. He’s gone in search of the venison, I dare say, that is to be delivered to-morrow into the office. Give me a gun and a pouch: I’ll find him out—meet him with a jolly hunter’s salutation—and offer my services to him as his hunting-boy.”

Both mother and daughter fell upon his neck; helped to equip the new huntsman to the best of their skill; and looked after him as he disappeared in the forest, with hope, but yet with some anxiety.