394 FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



tration that good leathers, a good habit, and a good circulation 

 might easily laugh to scorn. And between times the sun would 

 shine out, a rich blue sky would beam forth, and the whole 

 heaven frame itself into a warm apology for the rudeness just 

 done. 



The woods beneath the place of meeting were drawn during a 

 very brief interim of calm. But, while a weak fox was chased 

 into the Fawsley Shrubberies and there killed, a far more vulgar 

 and uncompromising condition of weather prevailed. In fact, a 

 heavy snowstorm was raging — and the only thing that could 

 without difficulty be discerned was a very pronounced longing on 

 the part of everyone to retire homewards as soon as self-respect, 

 or opportunity, would allow. 



Not so a quarter of an hour later, when great Badby Wood 

 was set alive. The field — about 100 to-day as against .300 on 

 the Friday before (though for comparison sake, and as a comment 

 aside, I am free to assert that on the Friday in question a full 

 third of the number who trod the turf round the township were, 

 very properly, townsmen. The lesser crowd of to-day were very 

 hunting men, equally hunting ladies, and regularly hunting 

 farmers — and these were all. Deduce what moral you like — 

 but ask not me to wield the pen of controversy. Rather prove 

 to me if further damage was done to-day, in two average runs, 

 than would find a single carpenter work for a week — and I will 

 wager you his wages for the sake of the County Infirmary). 



The Badby Wood fox took the drift of the storm clouds for his 

 index ; and with both sheets aft cut the Fawsley Estate by way 

 of the House and the Preston Coverts — a line of grass, of gates, 

 and of small woods, altogether in contrast with what the other 

 side of the lordship provided, after luncheon. Down the wind there 

 wasn't half & scent. 1 could see that — when, with the cunning- 

 begotten of more seasons than I dare reckon, and more mistakes 

 than I shall ever have time or wish to recall, I sank the wind and 

 remained on the Fawsley uplands — preferring my own meagre 

 society for half an hour (with such extraneous aid as was forth- 

 coming from a wicker basket and a fat cigar case) to a tolerable 



