i 4 6 ECHOES OF SPORT 



We had some good hirelings as mounts, 

 though the ones that came out of the livery 

 stables were rarely more than " two deckers " 

 and followed the hatchet. The huntsman 

 hired out a nice English hunter to one of my 

 cousins, she being a first-rate horsewoman, 

 and her brother got hold of another by name 

 " Moses " who carried him well. I occasion- 

 ally rode a little Irish chestnut mare, " Lady 

 Ben/' a chaser whose owner was trying to sell 

 her ; this was when I wished to go one better 

 than the Italian hireling could manage. 



The most amusing meet was at Cecilia 

 Metella, the tomb of one of Nero's ladies, if 

 my memory of Roman history serves me 

 right. This was a very fashionable rendez- 

 vous, and all Rome came to it either on horse- 

 back or on wheels. The luncheon tent that 

 day was in great request, and close beside the 

 road was a stone wall, which the whole hunt 

 had to jump, and any of the field who wished 

 to get on to the Campagna at all and see any 

 fun. All the smart ladies would step out of 

 their carriages, and range themselves along 



