138 THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE. 



hold some stout foxes that afford many a nice gallop, while the 

 country is rideable enough for a lady if she keeps out of the woods. 



Leamington, too, has first-rate accommodation for hunting people. 

 There are, indeed, no better hotels to be met with anywhere than 

 the "Regent" or the "Clarendon," or more moderate charges for 

 first-class houses; while the "Crown" and the "Bath" afford 

 capital quarters for gentlemen, and ample provision for doing their 

 horses well. 



The charming Spa, moreover, is at an easy distance from Rugby, 

 and by railing a horse to the latter place, ready access can be had to 

 hunting in the open country, six days in the week. 



My advice, then, to young ladies, who desire to witness foxhunting 

 in perfection, is to select one of the above-named localities, and to- 

 put herself at once under the guardianship in the field of a thoroughly 

 good pilot who knows the country. 



Words of advice to the latter are superfluous. All the men who 

 undertake the responsible office of guiding a lady after hounds 

 hereabouts are quite at home at their business, and it may be 

 satisfactory to my fair readers to know, that, although there are a 

 great number of ladies riding regularly with hounds in the North 

 Warwickshire, Pytchley, and Atherstone country, no accident 

 attended with injury to a lady rider has occurred within my 

 recollection, which extends over a long series of years. 



The initiation at cub hunting will have given our pupil confidence, 

 and accustomed her to the excitement shown more or less by every 

 horse at the sight of hounds ; and careful attention to the rules of 

 jumping before laid down will insure safety if she adheres carefully 

 to her pilot's line. It is as well, however, that she should understand 

 wherein consists the reason for what her hunting guide does, and 

 what should be done and left undone, from the time of arrival at the 

 meet until the retour de cJiasse. 



In the first place, then, while her mentor will of course see to her 

 girths and horse appointments before a start is made to draw a 

 covert, the lady should carefully look to her own dress, head gear^ 

 &c., and be certain that everything is in its place, and shows no- 

 signs of giving way. But if anything chances to be out of order — • 



