270 HUNTING MISERIES: 



of you, swarming and bustling over the fences, and 

 find yourself among the lucky ones who have been 

 there from the start. 



It is now time to think of the good bit of stuff 

 between your legs that has brought you here, for you 

 may be pretty sure that he has both galloped faster 

 and gone farther than the steeds he has now joined ; 

 therefore it behoves you to take no unnecessary 

 liberties with him if he is to stay there. So you must 

 look out for the sound going, the wet furrow in the 

 ploughed field, the firm headland and the firm take- 

 off, and above all things do not hurry him up the 

 steep incline. If there be ever so slight a pause he 

 will catch his wind, and when he has gained breath, 

 the sight and sound of hounds will stimulate the 

 brave beast as they do his rider, and you need have 

 little fear but he will carry you gallantly to the close. 

 The extreme pleasure that is now yours is enhanced 

 by the anxiety you underwent during the long stern 

 chase, and by the miseries you suffered when you 

 became aware that you were left behind. So intense 

 is your satisfaction now by contrast with what has 

 gone before, that you almost wonder if the lucky ones 

 who got away with hounds and stayed there feel more 

 truly happy now than you who lost your start. 



What may be termed " doubtful days " have come 

 to us very frequently in Ireland this winter, 

 owing to the very sudden appearance of sharp 

 frosts when we least expected them. We have 

 taken our bedroom candlesticks and marched upstairs 

 to the accompaniment of a soft tinkle of rain on 



