236 REMINISCENCES OF 



elements. I was, however, determined to go, but 

 begged Mary to stay at home, but she insisted on 

 going too (much against her will and mine). She 

 would not believe I could drive, and I am sure never 

 expected to reach home in safety. So we started 

 about eleven to drive to Croxton Park, about twelve 

 miles. I drove "The Swell " in their cart. We got 

 there in a blinding and bitter snowstorm and saw 

 nothing. We careered wildly about and were told 

 the hounds had just trotted off ten minutes ago ; we 

 also saw two or three late Meltonites, which cheered 

 us immensely, so we drove along gaily expecting to 

 find them quite soon. Thus we careered until well 

 on in the afternoon, when weary, wet, disgusted and 

 starving we decided to put up in Harby and have 

 some food. I suggested going to the Crown Inn, 

 which we had previously passed ; Mary, however, 

 assured me that the White Hart wdisfar superior in 

 every way, so we went there and were greeted by a 

 fat old woman and lame boy who helped us to put 

 " The Swell " in. I then asked for gruel. They had 

 a tin of Neave's baby food which they called oatmeal. 

 I said, " Have you not got any real Scotch oatmeal ? " 

 " This is far better than they hever 'ave in Scotland ; 

 they don't know what hoatmeal is there," replied the 

 old woman. 1 felt that to convince her would be 

 hopeless, but did my best, and also mentioned that / 

 was Scotch. Ever afterwards she looked upon me 

 as a kind of civilised savage, and marvelled at my 

 being able to talk English so distinctly. Her gruel 

 was very inferior, but I got a feed of corn for " The 



