208 THE HUNTING FIELD 



nothing to say to you, think they cannot see too much 

 of you. They must have you alongside of them, and 

 when at length dull time has dragged through the 

 imprisonment, and with well feigned regrets you are 

 about to separate, they " bind you over " to appear 

 again on that day three months, or inform you that 

 they are to have the pleasure of meeting you at dinner 

 the next day at the new gaol you are going to. 



Let us take the converse of this sad picture. Let 

 us suppose a country house in a hunting country, 

 and see the influence field sports have in procuring 

 society. It is just like the difference between a 

 volunteer and a pressed man. Instead of a hostess 

 having to send out urgent solicitations to some, and 

 embossed cards to, others, the probability is that the 

 fixture of the hounds, in the county papers, conveys 

 the first intimation that she may prepare for a party ; 

 and instead of apologies, excuses, and backings out, 

 the plot thickens as the time approaches. 



We have heard it said that extempore speeches are 

 always the best, and we have met people simple 

 enough to believe well-conned orations were extem- 

 pore ; but that is a "fallacy" that does not require 

 Dr. Dixon to expose. We think we shall, however, 

 be borne out by our readers in asserting that extempore 

 parties are generally the pleasantest, especially ex- 

 tempore parties of sportsmen. People may object to 

 the conversation of foxhunters, just as they may 

 object to the conversation of lawyers, soldiers, sailors, 

 or any other class of men, but surely brisk, animated 

 conversation of any sort is infinitely preferable to the 

 forced, up-hill driblets of words proceeding from 

 constrained people with nothing in common. Put 

 the case in its very worst form, it leaves the uncon- 

 cerned, uninterested guest the privilege of running 

 his own thoughts and ideas through his mind, without 

 those tiresome interruptions and appeals that invari- 

 ably accompany forced attempts at " most delightful 



