COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 197 



broke open her cupboards, and got the remains of 

 two gallons of gin. I will soon dispose of her now, 

 but I don't know what to do with her little boy and 

 the old woman. 



" A new whipper-in has come to-night, Morris by 

 name, formerly with the Warwickshire, so I hope to 

 start Tom Powell soon, and be able to return to you. 

 Tom is much more valuable than Will would have 

 been here, as he knows the country. He also has a 

 better voice, and Will was a little deaf. He is light 

 and a capital horseman. Young Cross has nearly 

 had his toes cut off by the coach-house door falling 

 on them, so he has not been out for two days, but he 

 will be on Monday. 



" Now I must tell you of my travels. I went to 

 Bletchington on Thursday to dinner, Henry Peyton, 

 Lady and Algernon dined there, and two Fortescues. 

 We had a good hunt. Mr. Morrell was there, and 

 his huntsman, Tom Clarke, once my whip. We 

 had a good day's sport and caught two vulps, and 

 I rode ' Charm ' on Friday. After hunting we went 

 into Oxford — Valentia, Corbally and myself— and 

 dined at Mr. Morrell's. He is jolly, fat, hospitable, 

 sensible and a brewer. His wife is handsome and 

 good-natured, and has a little girl not quite two 

 years old. He mounted me to-day with his hounds, 

 and I came home by train, and here I am trying to 

 overtake my letters and unravel Cross' accounts, 

 which are in sad confusion. But I am quite well, 

 and not at all inclined to be beat by anything. 



" How are my little boys ? " 



