COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 237 



Swell," which he ate. We, in the meantime, re- 

 freshed ourselves with boiled eggs, and Mary had 

 ginger-beer. For the whole treat, horse and all, 

 we were asked sixpence ! The place had long since 

 ceased to be an inn, their licence having been taken 

 away, so the old woman apologised for not being 

 able to supply us with spirituous liquors. We then 

 wended our way Wivertonwards. Father said they 

 had had a stupid day, with the snow in their faces and 

 hardly any one out. So we did not miss much. 



Friday, 8th March. Father, I, horses, Henderson 

 and Peter left Wiverton in the morning and trained 

 to Great Dalby to hunt with the Quorn. (Tom Firr, 

 Alfred Earp, William, son of Jack West.) I rode 

 " Fairy," and the Duke of Portland mounted father 

 on " Black Friar," and also second horse out. We 

 trotted on to Gartree Hill, where we hoped to find 

 the hunt, but to our disgust we were told that they 

 had found and were running hard. Owing to our 

 train being a quarter of an hour late we were 

 naturally not in time for the meet, and to our disgust 

 we were never able to catch them up again. So we 

 were obliged to joggle along with all the second 

 horsemen and a few fellow-sufferers, among whom 

 were Miss Margot Tennantand Mr. Arthur Coventry. 

 1 here was a heavy downpour and thick mist, so we 

 gave it up as quite hopeless, and proceeded to go to 

 Barleythorpe. Just as we were within sight of it 

 we were joined by Mr. and Mrs. Baird and Rosie, 

 who had had a capital run with the Quorn right into 

 the Cottesmore country. 



