FHday, Febtraat^y 16th, 1894, 



ATH ready, sir," says William. I spring 

 from my bed as if shot from a catapult. 

 Such a day's sport and such delightful 

 company as I enjoyed on Wednesday has given a zest 

 to life, and made quite a new man of me. No longer 

 do I care for that extra half-hour's snooze which 

 entails hurry and vexation. " On beds of down your 

 dandies lie, and waste the cheerful morn." Not I. I 

 am now one of the right sort. No irresolution now. 

 I get up at once, dress, breakfast, and ride forth to 

 ** Stowford Cross." I am on *' Skylark," and feel 

 like flying. All nature is bright and joyous. The 

 birds are serenading their mates, and warbling forth 

 a happy presage for the coming day. As I jog along 

 I hum to myself the old ballad which I learned of 

 my father — 



"It was early in the spring, when the merry birds did sing, 

 And they sang of a hunting morning." 



I arrive at the meet in good time, and soon my 

 Valentine of Wednesday appears. We ride on 

 together to Upcott Gorse, which is drawn blank ; 

 thence to Cowditch Plantation, where a fox is found 



