1871] ELFORD. 299 



plunge or jump hurt his rider. The lattei; was vey y fond 

 of his horses, and believed in the suaviter mmodo rather 

 than the fortiter in re. His method was to quiet them by 

 word of mouth and gentle handling — a mode of treatment 

 which was in accord with the natural sweetness of his 

 disposition. But a fresh horse, like a wayward child, 

 understands none of these things. In an uncontrollable 

 ebullition of spirits the mischief is done, and there is an 

 end of it. There was no vice about Elford, but his game 

 of romps had as serious an effect as intentional malice. 



Altogether there was a feeling of a slipping away of all 

 things at Hoar Cross, The Admiral was gone ; the old 

 squire, the very fountain head of the hunting establish- 

 ment, did not very long survive him ; one of his daughters, 

 the life and soul of the family party, had just passed 

 away, and now the last of his race was in failing health. 

 Well might Tom Leedham, himself fast nearing the 

 alloted span of man's existence, exclaim with the wife of 

 Phinehas, " Ichabod ! The glory has departed ! " 



