A FARMERS DINNER. 1 53 



had been indulging', not wisely but too well ; and the 

 friend who was with him offered to drive him home — - 

 putting the coachman inside with his master for safety. 

 After a long, bitter cold drive, the friend drove into the 

 stable-yard and opened the carriage door, when the 

 host, who had been peacefully sleeping whilst his friend 

 had been freezing, thinking it was a stoppage at a turnpike 

 gate, put his hand in his pocket and said, 'All right, how 

 much ? ' " 



Unhappily neither time nor medical skill could undo 

 the disastrous effects of what had been brought about on 

 Epping F'orest in a few seconds. Mr. Arkwright's injuries 

 proved permanent : never again was he seen in the saddle. 

 A long period of illness, and the knowledge that his riding 

 days were over, would have caused most men to give up at 

 once and for ever the onerous task of keeping hounds ; but 

 Mr. Arkwright refused to be discomfited, and with " unvary- 

 ing kindness," as well as rare public spirit, "kept on the 

 country still " for eleven seasons, with Dobson as huntsman. 

 Though unable to mount a horse, an ingenious arrangement 

 was made in a mail phaeton which enabled the master in 

 his chair to be lifted in and wheeled to the front. His 

 marvellous knowledge of the country and the run of foxes 

 now stood him in good stead, and many a time would the 



