384 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY 



them enveloped in lather and soapsuds. This was a novel 

 mode of getting a horse clean and into condition by a summary 

 process, but Beckington sharing in my feeling that the gallant 

 old horse who had borne me so well and so often in the front 

 rank should have the honour of conveying the bride home, 

 determined to accomplish it if possible and succeeded, and 

 very handsome he and " Rocket" looked together in a set of 

 harness bought for the occasion. 



Season 1850-51. 



Saturday, November 2nd. The return of this season brings 

 with it some feelinsfs almost akin to reoret in the reflection 

 "What effect may my recent change of state have upon what 

 has hitherto been my chief source of enjoyment and as 

 I verily believe, the means of enabling a mind and tempera- 

 ment naturally unsuited to them, to bear up against the many 

 cares and anxieties entailed by an anxious profession ever 

 since the sudden death of my poor father left me a mere boy 

 fresh from school to encounter the struggle of life." If the 

 change should involve the abandonment or even a material 

 curtailment of the only recreation which has ever enabled me 

 to forget care for a time, will the affection of an amiable wife 

 fully compensate for the deprivation ? and will not the addi- 

 tional responsibilities consequent upon the change weigh yet 

 more heavily upon the mind when it has lost the healthful 

 vigour which in common with the body it has always hitherto 

 derived from the pursuit of field sports and the greatest of 

 pleasures ? The future, however, can alone answer these 

 enquiries, and therefore it is useless now to speculate upon 

 them. One satisfaction is, however, present, whatever may be 

 the result of the future, that unlike many of her sex, the regret 

 of my dear wife would be added to my own if from any cause, 

 especially one relating to herself, I were forced to forego a 

 manly and invigorating recreation, which combines health, 

 happiness and enjoyment. 



Having heard that Mr. Conyers, " the old Squire," would 

 have a bye-day at Myless, not beginning regular hunting 

 until the iith inst., I wended my way thither across the fields 

 on old "Carlow," and after waiting for a couple of hours the 

 Squire made his appearance, profuse in apologies, and with his 

 nether members encased in woollen and surmounted with 

 antigropelos. I was glad to see the old veteran in the saddle 

 again, for one cannot fail to admire his pluck and determina- 

 tion, whatever may be one's opinion of other points of his 



