310 PARTRIDGES 



are the friends of the family, and guns 

 are asked because they are liked, with 

 small regard to their prowess in the 

 field. Here the keepers have strict 

 instructions never to reveal the bag, and 

 no reference to figures is allowed. 



On the second estate, a vast tract 

 of country is devoted to the great driving 

 week; the guns are semi-professional, 

 and are there solely on business ; even 

 the ladies are banished for the week, 

 lest their disturbing influence should put 

 some one out of form. 



The diet and drink of this artillery 

 for so one is inclined to speak of the 

 guests are strictly regulated ; they are 

 packed off to bed soon after sunset, and 

 are in position for the first drive of 

 the morning before the sun has risen. 

 The score of each gun is carefully kept, 

 and his merits tested like those of a new 

 quick firer ; the business of the week 

 is to kill more partridges than any one 

 else does in the same time, and to that 

 end all else is subservient. 



