18 THE IMAGE OF WAR 



first took orders, never to hunt again, is generally 

 engaged in parochial work in the neighbourhood of 

 the covert most likely to be drawn whenever the meet 



is in his parish. Talking to him is F. E , the 



most sporting of solicitors, and the worthy secretary 

 of the Old Hunt. Now we are out of the town, and 

 the home welcome concerns ourselves alone. 



Next morning comes the jog along the familiar 

 lanes to the meet with " the governor," who, on his 

 confidential cob, doesn't look as if he was verging 

 on the scriptural limits of man's age. His broad 

 ridge-and-furrow cords and stout-soled tops make our 

 leathers and Peale's look rather dandified ; but no 

 matter, we have other things to think of. "The 

 Forty A.cres in roots this year?" "Yes; and held 

 more birds than I ever saw there," is the answer. 

 Why, oh why, were we at Hong-Kong, or Meerut, 

 as the case may be, then ? " Yes ; that hill pasture 

 never was any good, so I planted it up with larch 



in '9 — . E-are covert it is now ; Johnny B killed 



three woodcocks there on one day last season." Then 



we are off the old place, but remarks on 's farm, 



and how such and such a place has recently changed 

 hands, fill up the time, till we are surprised to see 

 how soon we have reached the meet. 



The meet! The last we were at was perhaps at 

 Dunshauglin, or Badby, or Thorpe Thrussels. This 

 is rather a different thing. Counting ourselves, there 

 are just six pinks, perhaps thirty horsemen all told, 

 and two vehicles. But what a hearty welcome to 

 contrast with the " How do ? " we got there. 



First it is the squire. Ton my word, he does not 

 look a day older than when he first took the horn. 

 Was that the year before or the year after we went 



