112 BRITANNY A:ND THE CHASE. 



always tasted of mud, and then my wife abused me : in 

 fine, the pond was the plague of my life, and I was often 

 on the eve of throwing myself into it, when a kind friend 

 suggested an easier method, and lo ! I drained it off, sold 

 all the fish, and now all is quiet inside and out, and I look 

 at it with pleasure." 



Whatever may be the merits of the French men as 

 marksmen, it is certain that the French loomen shoot 

 better than English women : yes, verily, many a French- 

 woman will knock down her bird as cleverly as a pupil 

 of Colonel Hawker. The fashion, too, seems on the 

 increase. I know several young ladies who are practising 

 (shame be it spoken !) on the blackbird and the thrush with 

 light pieces made for the express purpose, and they think 

 it very fine ; but for the life of me I cannot like them for 

 it. Whatever art and Bloomerism may say and do to the 

 contrary, there is a difference between a woman and a 

 man, and not Venus herself would be looked at in leathers 

 and fustians. What should we say in England at seeing 

 Miss with her double barrel, leash of pointers, breeches 

 and gaiters, and Jane the maid with the game-bag? 

 Wouldn't that make a Norfolk papa open his eyes wide, 

 to meet them knee- deep in his turnips on a dewy day, or 

 blowing a cloud under a hedge at noon ? Courting would 

 be an insult to such a sporting character, and a proposal 

 might be reduced to " Toho," to save time. As to pistol- 

 shooting also, they are as expert as men. In most gun- 

 smiths' shops " Pistolets ]jour les Dames" are as regularly 

 exposed as other sorts ; and I know several ladies who are 

 prouder of their skill with *^ the tools," as Pat calls them, 



