10 THE MASTEK OF THE HOUNDS. 



now to horse, Will ; but I shall meet you to-niorrow, at Har- 

 court's, I hope 1 " 



" Perhaps you may, as Constance goes, and has accepted for 

 two, which means, I believe, herself and me." 



While William Beauchamp and Conyers had been discussing 

 these matters, sotto voce, in a bay window at the extreme end of 

 the room, other visitors had been thronging in, to pay their 

 respects to the old squire and the ladies ; and sherry, with fine 

 sparkling October, was freely circulated amongst the strangers 

 and farmers on the lawn ; when, on the appearance of the 

 hounds, all eyes were at once directed towards them. 



" Ah, Beauchamp ! " exclaimed Sir Francis ; " there is a 

 sight worth riding a hundred miles to view ; a splendid pack 

 indeed ! we can't beat you in Leicestershire at that game. 

 Magnificent animals ! but I should think a trifle too big for 

 our fences, where a smaller hound can creep through." 



" Well, perhaps it may be as you say," replied Mr. Beau- 

 champ, " although our hounds go at their fences like greyhounds ; 

 they are too highly bred for creeping where they can jump ; 

 and in our stiff vale country, with high banks and double 

 ditches, and the lands, after heavy rain, half under water, I 

 think small hounds would never do the work ours do — at least, 

 not in their style ; and with fox-hounds, style, in my opinion, 

 is everything." 



" Bight, my old friend, you are quite right ; style is the thing 

 with fox-hounds. Harriers may hunt a fox to death, but they 

 can't finish him off in the same style as fox-hounds." 



" Well, then there is another reason why I prefer large 

 hounds (not heavy, lumbering, throaty brutes, whose heads are 

 so heavy that, when once down, they can't get them up again), 

 but with clean heads and necks, and straight, muscular limbs, 

 active and lightsome as tigers ; they have power and strength 

 to work over our heavy country, and come cheerfully home 

 after the hardest day, with courage unabated, and sterns well 

 up. Besides, every man has not the brains to breed a big, 

 clever hound ; and I dislike little men, little women, little 

 horses, and little hounds, although they are all very well in 

 their way, but not to my taste." 



"Well, Beauchamp," replied Sir Francis, "you have suc- 

 ceeded to the utmost of your wishes, for I never yet saw so fine 

 and handsome a pack of fox-hounds as that now before me, and 

 if they can go the pace, they are quite perfection." 



