62 The Tetcott Hunt Ujeek. 



armchair, after having dined well. *' Sure, never 

 man's prospects were brighter," as the Oxford fresh- 

 man sings. I am the accepted suitor of the most 

 lovely of England's lovely daughters, and I have 

 distinguished myself in the hunting field. 



From Holsworthy to the finish I was in the first 

 flight ; indeed, often first, save that a vision of 

 beauty glided on before me, o'er moor and fen like a 

 Will o' the Wisp, and as unapproachable, but never 

 leading its follower into trouble, as that false guide 

 does. 



I hope to-morrow's performance will prove that I 

 have really and truly gained much in skill and judg- 

 ment by the last three days' experience in riding to 

 hounds. " Chapman's Well " is the fixture for 

 to-morrow, and is the very place from which my 

 father had a run which resulted in an unusual finish. 

 The meet was a very favourite one in the days when 

 Mr. Phillipps hunted the country, and before the 

 downs and moors had been enclosed and subdivided. 

 On the occasion to which my father's story alludes, 

 the hounds found late in the day, and it was growing 

 dark when, after a very fine run, they killed their 

 fox in the open. 



Whilst the obsequies were going on, there was a 

 distant sound of hounds running. It came nearer 

 and nearer, till at last a pack of rather small size 

 hounds swept by at a rattling pace. My father and 



