296 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1870 



Though not a hard rider, he is a good horseman, and 

 only last year, when well over sixty, came out on a four- 

 year-old, and a one-eyed one at that. When the Rev. 

 John Russell advertised for a curate of moderate and 

 orthodox views, his churchwarden's explanation of the 

 italicized word was that " he reckoned it meant some one 

 as could ride pretty straight." In this sense, and doubt- 

 less in the other as well, Mr. Legard was most truly 

 orthodox, as all who have seen him sailing along at his 

 ease over this country will readily allow. When he first 

 arrived in April, 1869, all the ladies thought him a most 

 delightful young man, just the thing for tea-parties and 

 mothers' meetings ; but when a horse or two began 

 to arrive at Marston-Montgomery, they commenced to 

 shake their heads, and possibly to agree mentally with 

 the dissenting minister mentioned above. During the 

 season in which he hunted here, no one had much the 

 best of him when hounds ran, and he had the knack of 

 galloping. 



It was not a brilliant season on the whole, as there 

 were eight weeks of frost and snow, and not much sport. 

 The opening day was remarkable for the fact that, after a 

 pretty good run, hounds went home at 1.30! If Tom 

 made up his mind to go home, home he would go, 

 " whether or no," as Derbyshire folk say. Once they had 

 a very good gallop in the morning, and Mr. Meynell Ingram 

 saw by the old man's manner that he meant to be off back 

 to kennels. The Hon. Mrs. Colvile was a great favourite 

 with the huntsman, and it was thought that he might be 

 induced to draw again cheerfully, if she asked him. 

 " Where are you going now, Tom ? " she inquired, as a 

 gentle hint to him to do so. " I'm going whoam ! " was the 

 terse reply. And home he went. 



What little sport they had in 1870-71 was in March. 

 On the 11th of the month they ran from Carry Coppice, 

 by Bramshall, and Bramhurst, losing their fox at Den- 

 stone. He was seen going on by Dove Leys for Norbury, 

 a very unusual line. 



