104 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



committee spared neither trouble nor expense in their arrange- 

 ments, being determined, in the spirit of true sportsmen, that 

 the thing should be done well — and well it was done. The 

 members of each hunt had the option of appearing in their re- 

 spective dress coats, but the general company were requested 

 to be in uniform or fancy costume. The highest families for 

 many miles in every direction sought eagerly for cards of 

 admission to this splendid fete, which were only at first 

 obtainable from members of the four hunts ; but it was 

 deemed advisable in some cases to depart from this rule, and 

 an additional number was issued for persons of distinction resid- 

 ing within prescribed limits ; and more than one fox-killing 

 pater familias was fairly run down by wife and daughters 

 all at him at once, and obliged to promise never to destroy 

 another fox. 



The gentlemanly conduct of the committee, who did all in 

 their power to accommodate the numerous applicants having 

 any pretensions, from property or influence in the county, to ask 

 for tickets, was the general theme of conversation, and the 

 Grand Union Ball became the subject of great interest in the 

 most fashionable circles for weeks previously. 



Beauchamp sent two of his tickets to Mrs. Gordon and 

 Blanche, reserving one for Sir Francis Burnett, who had pro- 

 mised to attend ; and Lord Malcolm, to propitiate the Har- 

 courts, enclosed two also for their acceptance. The anxiously 

 expected evening at length arrived, and by ten o'clock the 

 rooms were crowded with as gay and brilliant an assemblage as 

 ever graced a ball-room \ the costumes of the ladies being of the 

 most reclierchee and elegant description. 



Blanche and her friend Constance appeared in the simple 

 Scotch costume of white muslin and tartan. Selina Markham 

 assumed the character of a lady of George the Second's reign, 

 -figuring away with Bob Conyers in a minuet, similarly disguised 

 in the attire of a courtier of that period. Her sister Caroline, 

 with the Bollestons and a friend on a visit, represented the 

 seasons of the year, and formed a quadrille which was much 

 admired ; but, beyond these, it were needless to attempt a 

 description of the various costumes and characters, borrowed 

 almost from every age and every clime, which graced and en- 

 livened the festive scene. 



Of the gentlemen, the most conspicuous was William Car- 

 rington, the master of the S. W. hunt, whose towering height 

 and immense proportions attracted all eyes. 



