CHAPTER XXXV. 



THE CLOSE OF THE HUNTING SEASON. 



IFTER a T\rinter of unexampled severity^ 

 which greatly curtailed the amount of 

 sport, the season closed with some 

 capital runs, notably with the Duke 

 of Beaufort, the Duke of Grafton, and the North 

 Warwickshire Hounds. Notwithstanding that the 

 opportunity of seeing many of the principal packs 

 was so greatly reduced by the long-continued 

 frost, I contrived to ride with fifteen different lots of 

 first-class hounds, finishing up the year with the 

 Duke of Grafton, the North Warwickshire, and the 

 West Kent. Having been invited to visit Newport 

 Pagnell, I embraced the opportunity, and soon 

 found myself in comfortable quarters at the very 

 hospitable residence of Mr. Hives, with the prospect 

 of a first-rate mount, and the chance of a good 

 day's sport ; the fixture for the ensuing day being 

 Astwell Mill, some six or seven miles from Towcester. 

 The morning was such as we have now nearly 

 got accustomed to — dull and dreary, with a cold 

 north-east wind blowing freshly. The suggestion 

 that I s"bould go to cover in a brougham exactly 



