THE REV. JOHN RUSSELL. 319 



could ill disguise the regret he felt at losing 

 two members of his ''field" whom he valued 

 so much for their companionable qualities, not 

 only with hounds, but at ''table-board." 



Russell, then, had fallen fairly on his legs 

 by dropping into so genial a groove ; and it is 

 quite certain that, if form and ceremony had 

 been the order of the day, instead of good- 

 fellowship, seasoned, it may be, here and there, 

 with a spice of horse-and-hound talk, he would 

 never have enjoyed himself as he did, nor so 

 cordially appreciated the honour done him by 

 that gracious invitation. 



Not long afterwards, however, he was destined 

 to see something more of His Royal Highness's 

 society than, from his position in life — that of a 

 rural, west country parson, only known to fame 

 within the limits of the hunting world — his 

 homespun habits could have led him to expect. 



In the winter of 1873, by the kindness of 

 his friend, Mr. Harry Villebois, he was invited 

 to spend a week at Marham Hall, the ancient 

 seat of that gentleman's family, "to meet," as 

 the invitation expressed it, " the Prince of 

 Wales and a party of friends." It is doubtful, 

 however, if even so fair a promise of hospi- 

 tality, combined with the prospect of meeting 

 such goodly company would alone have tempted 

 him to turn his back for six hunting days on 

 Lord Portsmouth's hounds, or Mr. Froude 



