THE BILLESDON HUNT. 41 



wishing to be deprived of his residence, 

 Captain Bethune attended, with the view of 

 purchasing. It soon transpired that he had 

 an opponent, a gentleman from Manchester, 

 who, having amassed an independence, 

 merely wanted it as a place of rural retire- 

 ment, without possessing any hunting pro- 

 clivities. There were some sporting farmers 

 in the room, who, noticing the biddings, 

 thus addressed him : *' Why, you must not 

 turn out the captain, for if you do, you will 

 never hear the last of It." The hint was 

 accepted, and Captain Bethune became the 

 purchaser. Anxious to know the result, 

 the inhabitants of Burton Overy were on 

 the alert, the news was conveyed with 

 telegraphic despatch, and the village bells 

 proclaimed the result with a merry peal. 

 But that was not enough to exhaust the 

 cordial feeling. On the following morning 

 the poorer classes of the women, determin- 

 ing not to be exceeded in their allegiance, 



