236 FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



woods fringing the eastern edge of Exmoor were plainly marked 

 under the overhanging blackness — masses of darkest green to 

 connect the varied colouring of the plain with the deep purple 

 that lost itself in the frowning heavens. 



The glorious landscapes of Devon and Somerset require no 

 bright sun to show them to advantage. Their own lights and 

 shades are so vividly marked that the aid of sunshine dazzles 

 rather than assists the sight. The dull grey light of a cloudy 

 day does them better justice, preserves all outlines, but softens 

 tints which the glare of the sun will render almost tawdry. 

 The brilliant colouring of the heather, the flashing brightness 

 of the yellow corn, the intense depth of green of the woods, 

 and the mirrorlike surface of the sea, are best brought together 

 under the soothing influence of a dull sky. And in this respect 

 we have this year been continually fortunate. Often the 

 advantage has been bought by the discomfort of a wet skin ; 

 but a wet skin is seldom harmful under exercise ; and the price 

 has not been a heavy one for such pictures of nature as have 

 been daily spread before us. 



So the Master goes to the Quantocks to fulfil a duty : the 

 field go there to feast upon the scenery — and upon other more 

 portable luxuries. Scenery, however, is the chief reward of the 

 trip ; and most of the staghunters look forward impatiently to the 

 return of the hounds to Exford. For sport can no more subsist 

 on scenery, than matrimony on love — a point which a man of 

 the world once put in the following forcible way. A. was a 

 younger brother, dependent on the elder orphan B. A. decided 

 that he was in love, would like to get married, and appealed to 

 B. " What are you going to live upon ? " said the more 

 practical B. "Oh, I never thought of that ! " replied A. 

 "Well, then," rejoined B. in a style of diction peculiar to him- 

 self, " the sooner you think of it the better ! Love's a blessed 

 good thing, but it won't find you a bottle of pop when you want 

 one, or a gig horse either ! So don't let me hear any more of 

 your nonsense ! " And accordingly A. is still a bachelor, and 

 still able to drink and drive when he may feel inclined. 



