274 REMINISCENCES OF 



as possible missed our train. We sent our horses 

 and groom on by first train and Etta ^ and I went 

 attended by the stately Rossignioli. 



"At Varese station we met Mme Leonini and 

 her husband, who originally started the pack. He 

 is a very nice man, with a nice voice, and rides 

 beautifully. They are very rich, and have perfect 

 hunters, nearly all Irish thoroughbreds. Mme 

 Leonini is the only woman who hunts here. She 

 does hostess to the concern, so we were under her 

 chaperonage. Marchese Durini also went with 

 us. He is mad about le sport, and I am going to 

 present him with one of the laird's Hints to Hunts- 

 7nen. 



" We spent over an hour in the train, and then 

 went to a funny old-fashioned inn which used to be 

 a palace at Gallerata, where we found a table dhote 

 breakfast in a long low room and the assembled 

 field — about twenty of the jeunesse dorde of Lom- 

 bardy, all extremely smart and would-be English, 

 many in caps and red coats. They were all pre- 

 sented to us in a row, with the table between. We 

 exchanged endless bows and sat down utterly 

 bewildered with the many titled names. I made 

 at once for the Master (Marchese della Terre), and 

 told him how much I had all my life looked forward 

 to a hunt in Italy. Everybody was kind and nice 

 and rather shy. 



" The Master amused me by consulting our 

 wishes as to what hour we should like him to start, 



' Marchesa Etta de Viti de Marco. 



