CHAPTER VIII 



LIFE AT LIMBER 



Fox-hunting at Limber meant conjugating the verb " to hunt " 

 in all its tenses in the present, whenever possible, if not in the 

 immediate future. Racing followed, preferably on non-hunting 

 clays, which meant riding one of the Limber stable chasers or 

 getting a mount wherever one was available, no matter bad or 

 good, for in these days it was "the sport" that was the thing, 

 and not the possibility of broken bones, that counted. Horses 

 to us signified not merely taking all the best out of them, but 

 meant putting into them the best possible knowledge and 

 ability, by sound horsemanship and good schooling over fences 

 or otherwise. Then, when the active work, either of the chase 

 or the racecourse, was over for the day, we talked " horse " for 

 the rest of the happy evenings with congenial companions. 

 This made up the sum, at least in winter, of the " Cat's " joyous 

 days at Limber. Joyous they were, indeed, for him, and happy 

 for those who enjoyed his good fellowship and leadership in all 

 equine as well as in other matters. 



Then, too, when Jack Frost maliciously stepped in and 

 stopped hunting and racing, there was skating on the fine 

 stretches of water in Brocklesby Park, in which art Maunsell 

 was a past master. Hockey on the ice was also indulged in, 

 for our party always mingled with the "house party" at the 

 Hall, and we invariably had fine fun. Lady Yarborough and 



72 



