232 Hark Away, 



weather to pay a visit to Mr. Lansley at Glanville, 

 near Andover, who had kindly promised not only to 

 put me on a good nag, that I might have a ride with 

 homids, but also to show me on the following day 

 the large stud of the Andover and Weyhill Horse 

 Company, of which he is one of the joint managers. 



As we started to ride to cover, a distance of some 

 seven or eight miles, a heavy mist blurred the land- 

 scape, and prevented my obtaining a good view of 

 the country; and a soaking rain soon took the bloom 

 off boots and breeches, marring the pleasure, to some 

 extent, of the sport. But, contrasted Avitli the hard 

 time we have been so long suffering from, it would 

 have been wrong to grumble, and I made up my mind 

 to disregard the ungenial atmospheric arrangements, 

 and enjoy myself to the fullest extent. Soon such 

 trifling matters, as a little, more or less, of wind and 

 water ceased to trouble my mind, and a smart canter 

 on a clever nag quickly put the blood in circulation, 

 and caused me to feel well satisfied with myself and 

 things in general. 



Then, as we rode along, we overtook Sir William 

 Humphery of Penton Lodge, a capital sportsman, and 

 chairman of the Andover and Weyhill Company, in 

 which he takes considerable interest, accompanied by 

 his nephew, Mr. George C. Humphery, and being 

 introduced to these gentlemen, we found time be- 

 guiled, whilst riding to the fixture, by pleasant and 

 agreeable chat. 



Then Everley was reached, the residence of Mr. 

 Curtis, and in a meadow in front of the house were 

 J. Fricker, his whips, George Bevins and G. Vincent, 

 and the pack of blooming hounds, the condition of 



