MERRY CHRISTMAS. 465 



dent of five years back. A fox left readily — instantly — for the 

 Vale. And now the earth had warmed again from last night's 

 rime. A substantial field remained, though quite half its 

 number had retired— and the former were bent on a ride. 

 Well, if hounds hadn't room for the next fifteen minutes, it 

 was for no lack of pace on their part ; for it seemed to me they 

 had half a field to the good all the way. And such a country ! 

 Equal to the best of yesterday — not timbered so strongly ; but 

 exacting enough in its blackthorn strength, though ever practic- 

 able. What a thud men make on the turf when they fail at 

 this speed ! and how tough must the human frame be to stand 

 such resounding shock ! (Dine yourselves sparingly and steam 

 your ribs warmly to-night, my two friends !) Thus to the 

 Southam and Shuckburgh road and across it towards Stockton 

 — the chief leaders being the Master, Messrs. B. Hanbury, 

 Goodman, Schwabe, Greig, and two or three more. There was 

 a minute's check on the banks of Napton Reservoir ; then the 

 lady pack went on of themselves by Calcot Gorse, and by them- 

 selves across the canal to Shuckburgh Hill. To follow them, 

 we had to cross the canal first by a drawbridge, afterwards by a 

 right or left de'tour — hounds running hard ahead for the east 

 end of the Hill, and completely round it for the Hall. Thirty- 

 five minutes to a check near here — more hunting, through the 

 wood and to Flecknoe and back, for another half-hour. A 

 delightful burst and an excellent hunt — how it ended I shall 

 only learn at to-morrow's covert-side. Motto for the day — 

 " Open rebuke is better than secret love." 



MERRY CHRISTMAS. 



Not the least happy part of all in my day's hunting is the 



look-back of the after-dinner cigar. I would almost as soon 



muse the day over then as ride it again ; or twice as soon as 



talk it again. By myself I can draw my own retrospect, and 



run through the salient points of what I have seen, with no 



u H 



