Befo7'e the Frost, 1 1 1 



mile or so, journeying through the fine old park, 

 brought me to the seat of the Dyke family, and, 

 passing under the venerable ivy-clad archway, I 

 saw for the first time the old-fashioned house, with 

 the ancient parish church of St. Botoljjh, in which 

 are beautifully-stained windows, on one side of the 

 lawn, and on the other the waterfall and winding 

 stream, the home of many wdld fowd ; whilst on the 

 lawn were the huntsman and his hounds, and a large 

 assemblage of the magnates of the county. Men in 

 scarlet, ladies in habits, sturdy yeomen, and lads and 

 lasses of the neighbouring villages were mingling 

 freely together ; whilst Sir W. Hart Dyke was 23ress- 

 ing every comer to partake of the magnificent 

 repast that was spread in the beautifully-decorated 

 hall. Nor were the visitors slack in availing them- 

 selves of the hospitable invitation, nor averse to 

 try the inviting bottles containing the hunt break 

 fast champagne, a dry wine decorated with an 

 especially sporting label, which attracted universal 

 attention, and which induced the visitors again and 

 again to try, as Mr. Pickwick did the punch, in 

 order to ascertain to a certainty whether it was 

 really dry champagne ; and these trials probably 

 were productive, at a later period, of the deter- 

 mination on the part of certain eager sportsmen 

 to have a go at the sheep hurdles whilst the hounds 

 were drawing an adjacent cover. 



It was a bright day and a beautiful scene. Among 

 the many present I noticed the Marquis and Mar- 

 chioness of Abergavenny, the Ladies Violet, Rose, 

 and Idina Nevill, Lord Henry Nevill, Lord George 

 Nevill, Viscount Hardinge, Viscount Sydney, Earl 



