CAPTAIN WARNER 95 



selves, that is, no horseman was within a field of 

 them ; and there in the same week the Belvoir had 

 a very fast gallop from Piper Hole Gorse. 



It was an afternoon run, and I remember when 

 the covert was drawn only an hour's daylight re- 

 mained. The morning crowd had gone home to 

 tea, and there were scarcely a score left, but I re- 

 member one lady, who, if my memory does not 

 deceive me, was Lady Gerard — " Mrs." then. 



How we shivered on that hilltop and wondered 

 if we had been wise to remain, with perhaps a linger- 

 ing lament for the poached eggs and buttered toast. 

 " Gone away " dispelled the gloom in an instant, 

 and the shivering onlookers were converted next 

 minute into glowing performers. 



For five-and-twenty minutes we were galloping 

 over the vale, with the pack racing on and horses 

 striving to keep them in sight. 



The inevitable result of drawing late is that 

 you have to stop hounds when they might kill 

 their fox, and this is what happened that evening ; 

 but it was a hot and happy little band of sportsmen 

 who rode back to Melton in the dark. Most of them 

 are, I expect, dead by now, but if any are still alive 

 they will easily recall that gallop. It is such a long 

 time ago that I can't say now who they were, but 

 Lord Henry Bentinck was one of the party, and he 

 is still flourishing, though nowadays he appears to 

 prefer a seat at Westminster to one in the saddle. 



These memoirs will not contain the name of any 

 lady who is still alive, but I shall reserve the right 

 of mentioning those who are not now competitors 

 on the stage of life. There are any number of 

 women whom I have had the pleasure of seeing ride 



