A BRIDGE OF SIGHS. 557 



sell pencil or flower. E'en the beauty-pictures of the photo- 

 graph shops seemed to shrink and tremble in their semi- 

 nudity, and to enter mute protest against their exposure, 

 while in flesh and blood the originals whisked by, wrapped 

 brow -high in fur. 



But the cold passed away from the Midlands sooner than from 

 the Metropolis ; and, as I have said, the Grafton were out on 

 Monday — with no great result, however — the best item being a 

 late little scurry between Maidford and Plumpton. 



Dare I tell it ? Yes, I must — even though I expose myself 

 to a charge of ungallantry or frivolous impertinence. You 

 know that one of the most recognized characteristics of a 

 Northamptonshire field is its courtesy. E'en itself would allow, 

 perhaps, that its very haute jjolitesse is reserved for — or at all 

 events is most prominent — when hounds are not running, and 

 particularly when the first rush is not on. It was at a placid 

 moment that on one day this week a concourse arrived on the 

 Avon's bank with a view to crossing that river. The bridge 

 was na,rrow, with a hand-gate at either end : and the field pro- 

 ceeded to defile slowly across. Hounds, as I have said, were 

 not running ; and polished courtesy ruled the day. (It was not 

 exactly so, I remember, a month ago — but then a fox was before 

 us on that occasion.) Now, it was quite a case of " our skipper 

 ashore" — with his off-duty manners. "Ladies, please! Let 

 the ladies go ! " And they were passed into the pen, a string 

 of them together. The pen would just hold three couple, in 

 single file. But by some accident the leading couple went 

 abreast ; the gate in front slammed to ; and the gate behind at 

 the same moment closed on the last, thus enclosing seven in all ! 

 The leaders, being wedged tight together, could not get at the 

 latch with their right hands ; their education did not reach to 

 using a whip with the left ; nor could they change their position 

 an inch. So there the whole party stood, lamb-like, for several 

 minutes, (while 200 waited too), till a gallant youth alighted, 

 and scrambled past them along the outside of the bridge. I 

 leave you to suggest what seven men would have said during 



