CHAPTER XY. 



BEFORE THE EROST. 



SHALL have very great pleasure in 

 joining you on Thursday. AVith very 

 many thanks for your kindness, yours," 

 etc., was the reply I made to the 

 pleasant invitation of Mr. Edward Durrant, the 

 popular secretary of the Tunbridge Wells district 

 of the West Kent Hunt, to attend the first meet 

 of the season at Lullingstone Castle, the beautiful 

 seat of Sir AVilliam Hart Dyke. Starting from 

 Victoria Station by the London, Chatham, and 

 Dover Railway, a short journey landed me, punc- 

 tual to a minute, at the Eynesford station. It was 

 evident that it was a more than ordinary occurrence 

 that caused such bustle, but not confusion, at this 

 usually tranquil station. Thanks to Mr. Vincent 

 Hill, the fifty horses arriving by the up and down 

 trains were speedily unloaded, and the ladies, being 

 mounted, escorted by men in pink, formed a gay 

 cavalcade as they wended their way to the castle. 

 Not only was I invited to attend this large gather- 

 ing, but also to ride Grey Friar, a sporting-looking 

 horse, whose performances fully carried out the 

 promise his appearance betokened. A ride of a 



