The Coming of the Countess of Yarborough 



Apropos of my eleventh birthday-saddle present, I can never 

 forget the unselfish joy which my brother Maunsell displayed 

 over its arrival. We had all seen a big hamper arrive on the 

 Saturday, and had led Mother and Grandmother a dreadful 

 life of questioning as to what it could possibly contain. The 

 carrier, Crowe by name, we knew, had brought it from Caistor, 

 our nearest shopping town, on the Saturday ; my eleventh 

 birthday being on the Monday. His son still carries to and 

 fro for the inhabitants of Limber village, and his sweet-shop 

 still sells the "lollypops" we then loved so well as children. 

 On the Monday, at the first moment possible, we rushed to 

 the call of our elders to see the hamper unpacked. First there 

 came a lovely bridle. Then, later, after much pulling out of 

 straw, came the saddle with its wonderful new-fashion third 

 crutch. Though not usually demonstrative, I well remember 

 Maunsell flinging his arms round Grandmother's neck, and 

 thanking her with all his heart. Then there was a saddling up 

 of ponies — especially mine, as I was the birthday queen — and 

 away we started to jump the hurdles, a feat I had never been 

 able to attempt before. Oh ! the joy of the security in jumping 

 which that third crutch gave ! 



Looking back over this long vista of years, my wonder 

 is in no way lessened that any woman could have had the 

 amazing pluck to ride to hounds as our Lady Worsley did 

 during the greater part of the hunting season of 1859-60 with 

 the Brocklesby, under such almost impossible conditions. Only 

 the same intense love of every description of sport and of "the 

 Sport of Kings " in particular, which Maunsell also possessed, 

 can account, not only for her youthful exploits in the hunting 

 field, but for the energy which made Lady Worsley her hus- 

 band's gallant companion in many a fine run of later years. 



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