LORD LONSDALE 161 



scent, and time was lost by the fox running through 

 Seagrave village ; but although it looked hopeless 

 on several occasions, Firr persevered and was 

 rewarded by hounds bowling him over close to 

 Ella's Gorse. 



Have I mentioned Harry Houghton before ? 

 Masters come and masters go, but Harry is a 

 permanent institution with the Quorn, though it 

 was not until Lord Lonsdale's era that he attained 

 official recognition. Belonging to a well-known 

 and highly respected yeoman family, his love of 

 sport prevented him from devoting his full energies 

 to agricultural pursuits, with the result that a sub- 

 stantial patrimony was early wasted. A passion 

 for fox-hunting, and with no other means of in- 

 dulging in it, eventually landed him amongst the 

 ranks of the "runners" in some one's faded scarlet 

 coat ; but though always ready to do slight services 

 for his mounted friends and earn something to 

 keep the pot boiling, his one great desire was to 

 see the fox hunted and killed. Of late years he 

 has followed the hunt with his terriers in a pony 

 cart, which might indicate prosperity, but I fear 

 that a natural tendency to cheery company and 

 lively evenings have rather retarded his advance 

 to substantial affluence. Perhaps those whom he 

 has assisted in days gone by may give him a 

 pension in his old age. 



There must have been a return this season to 

 the custom inaugurated by Capt. Warner, of hunt- 

 ing the south side of the Quorn country on Monday, 

 as I find on Monday, 27th December, the meet was 

 at Brooksby. A very nice run was the result, 



hounds finding in Ashby Pastures and after taking 

 II 



