558 FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



such imprisonment. I merely assert that not an audible 

 murmur broke forth from the ladies incarcerated upon this 

 Bridge of Sighs. 



TO AND FRO BENEATH SHUCKBURGH. 



This noon there is a keenness in the air, 



"Which stirs the blood and makes the pulse beat high, 



And the whole scene is most divinely fair. 



All too much subject have I — in the initial day of the present 

 week alone — can I but evolve, at all clearly, scenes that to the 

 mind's eye already seem but as visions (hazier and hazier hourly 

 unless I can fix them). Here comes in the writer's prerogative, 

 privilege, and reward. To him it is given to grip and recall — 

 for himself if he fail for others — the life, the action, the stirring 

 incident that already, to most of the actors, have been shuffled 

 into memory's waste-paper basket. These others have lived, 

 have enjoyed themselves, were excitedly happy — thought of 

 nothing else, perhaps talked of nothing else, that evening, were 

 discursive upon it next morning. Another event, some other 

 interest, supervened. Yesterday is straightway forgotten — or 

 only remembered as a point scored, another item to the good. 

 I tell you it is, at times, a happy task to start the quill from 

 covert, to set it going upon the line, and, as far as may be, 

 keep it there, till the who-hoop goes up — and Pegasus is 

 handed over to the second horseman. Thus, you will forgive 

 me if I am prolix — and wonder not that I am wont to pick 

 up trifles on the way.* 



Let me take you with the Grafton — who on Monday, Feb. 9, 

 were at Woodford, did a hearty day's work in their neighbours' 

 countries, and killed their last fox at dark after two hours' hard 

 running over the choicest of Shuckburgh's sweet surroundings. 



Of the earlier atoms of the day's doings, it is enough to 



* By one Godson it was said in 1770: — "The Paradise of an author is to 

 compose, his purgatory to read over his compositions, and his hell to correct the 

 printer's proofs." 



