NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 169 



the water, as if in the mirror of day. But previously to his appearance, 

 I observed to Mr. Callander, that the view of Kelso and its beautiful en- 

 virons could not possibly look to more advantage than they did by the 

 extraordinarily grey twilight of this fine morning, which, as " Venus 

 is the promise of the sun," was the harbinger of a beautiful day. 



About ten o'clock we were at our second breakfast at this venerable 

 old mansion — one of the oldest, I was told, in this part of Scotland, and 

 indeed such did its appearance indicate — where we found several 

 sportsmen were assembled, and in half an hour afterwards the hounds 

 arrived, accompanied by their noble owner. A horse called Bishop was 

 also brought from the kennel for myself, and we immediately proceeded 

 to business, accompanied by the lady of the house, who rode elegantly 

 and well, upon a thoroughly broke horse, but only as an amateur, at a 

 distance. 



Being splendidly mounted — on one of the duke's own horses again, and 

 I believe the best fencer in his stables*, I was sorely disappointed at the 

 unfavourable result of this promising day ; for old Phoebus had disap- 

 peared, and it had every sign of a hunting one. The hounds divided on 

 two scents at starting, and although we run one fox to ground at double 

 quick time, there was too much of the '' short and sweet" about the thing 

 to be satisfactory, unless it were to the horses. We had a sharp burst 

 with another fox, which also went to ground ; but this was not comme 

 il faut ; for although the leading hounds could run hard, the body of 



* When rifling this horse on another occasion, a fanner thus addressed me : — 



" You are riding the highest leaper in all Scotland. To see the walls Mr. Ogilvie 



(his former owner) used to ride that horse over, vcoidd have terrified any common 



mind." 



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