COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 235 



to Melton, over ten miles. There we put up " The 

 Swell " and got a very nice fast hireling (roarer) 

 and drove on to Barleythorpe, ten or eleven miles. 

 We arrived at about three and found Rosie and 

 Mrs. Baird just going out. They gave us food, as 

 we were starving, and we then walked to Oakham, 

 where we met Mr. Baird, Mr. Marshall, etc., and 

 returned to Barleythorpe. We then had tea and 

 drove home to Wiverton again. 



Wednesday (Ash), 6th March. Father and I 

 drove to Bingham in the M.'s brougham and pair, 

 and then trained to Nottingham and proceeded to 

 walk to Dr. Bell Taylor, 9 Park Row. There 

 was a high wind and a good deal of dust which got 

 into our eyes. Dr. Bell Taylor was of course en- 

 gaged, so we had to wait ages. At last he was 

 ready, so father and I descended to his consulting- 

 room. He put belladonna into father's right eye 

 and then proceeded to talk "shop," and I began to 

 feel sick and tried not to listen. I seized hold of 

 Whyte-Melville's Riding Recollections and said I 

 would wait upstairs until we were released, which I 

 then did, and got deep in my book. He presented 

 father with a book he had written on the diseases 

 of the eye and me with Riding Recollections, 



Thursday, /th March. Meet at Croxton Park. 

 Nasty wet morning. Father came into my room 

 and said, "Do you still mean to go, Oil?" "Yes," 

 I answered, " but I will take Peter (our groom) and 

 not Mary." At breakfast they all chaffed me awfully, 

 and would not believe I really meant to face the 



