THE SQUIRE. 75 



Turnditch to Ashbourne, thence by the Dove as far as 

 Uttoxeter, and then approximately by the road from there 

 to Cheadle. The Dove Valley harriers also occupied part 

 of this district, and hunt it all, so far as is possible, now. 



But it was very up-hill work. The first season resulted 

 in nineteen blank days, but still he persevered as per- 

 sistently as ever did the Kev. John Eussell, who met with 

 a similar experience in pursuit of the otter. And in the 

 next season he fared better, but in the last he had no 

 fewer than nine blank days running ! 



In 1898 the bells rang out joyously at Radburne, and 

 a great welcome was given to him when he brought home 

 his bride, Inez, youngest daughter of Colonel Arent of 

 the 2nd Brandenburg Uhlans, No. 11. The Derbyshire 

 yeomanry, who were met on the boundary line of the 

 estate by the tenantry, escorted them home. 



In 1900 he sold his hounds to Mr. John Hargreaves, 

 master of the Blackmoor Vale, where they gave a good 

 account of themselves, and showed excellent sport. Old 

 Wedlock, who is almost white, and a wonder in her work, 

 remained at Radburne, where this year she had a litter of 

 twelve puppies. This calls to mind the story of a sporting- 

 little boy, who translated " stant litore puppes," " a grand 

 litter of puppies ! " 



To his mere riding such a thorough sportsman as the 

 Squire would not value a compliment, yet Charles always 

 maintained stoutly that he was the best welter weight in 

 England ; pish-ing and pshaw-ing if any of the usual noted 

 ones was mentioned as being nearly his equal, only allowing 

 that one " was pretty good for ten minutes," or another 

 " could go for a bit on one horse." At one time he used 

 to ride at the Derby shows, in the jumping competitions, 

 on some of his wonderful weight-carriers, and they always 

 won — on their merits, too. In fact, in the writer's humble 

 opinion, he and the late Squire Drake (father of the 

 present Squire) were the two most finished horsemen 

 he ever saw, and their style in crossing a country was 

 very similar, while both appeared to have the art of 



