44 FOX-HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS 



on domestic discipline, who kept an ever-watchful 

 eye on such proceedings, and discouraged his 

 wanderings after what she termed '' strange 

 packs of hounds/' He sometimes asked me to 

 organise a plan with him for an excursion to 

 meet the Duke's hounds at Trouble House or 

 Newnton Lodge, but Mrs. Pitt would be sure to 

 get wind of it somehow, and put her foot down 

 in opposition to the scheme. 



The Reverend Joe would say, '' But, my dear, 

 I promised to pay my respects to His Grace to- 

 morrow." To which she would reply, '' Nonsense, 

 stay at home and look after your parish.'' Again 

 he pleaded, '' But, my dear, you would not have 

 me break my word" ; and sure enough the next 

 morning would find this eminent divine at Trouble 

 House with what I believe are called ante-grope- 

 lows over his trousers, mounted on his old bay 

 horse (who made a noise and rejoiced in the name 

 of Musical), pounding away all day long, popping 

 over the walls as they came, murmuring when 

 in the air, '' Capital, sir," and on landing, 

 '' Wonderful, sir." To the last moment he would 

 stay with them, little heeding the Trouble House 

 he would surely find that evening on return to 

 the Rectory. 



How often have I parted with him at night- 

 fall, jogging home with the hounds, saying, '' Good- 



