316 REMINISCENCES OF 



Firr was there. Rode home with Tom Firr and had 

 tea with him at the kennels. He wanted to lend 

 Isobel his fur coat. He said it had been given to 

 him by a lady, but he did not put it on although he 

 felt sure if he came to the meet without it " the first 

 woman or man he would see would be her lady- 

 ship. And sure enough it was her ladyship. And 

 she said, ' Why haven't you got your coat on, 

 Tom ? ' I said, ' It's not cold enough, my lady '. 

 She said it was quite cold enough. So next time 

 I put it on, and I never felt so ashamed of my- 

 self in my life as I did that day riding through 

 the village." Paget kindly sent us his carriage to 

 meet us at Quorn. 



On 3Oth put horses in train at Kegworth to 

 Syston, and rode on to Melton Steeplechase. Went 

 to Harborough Arms at Melton. The worst inn I 

 ever was in ; mutton chops hard as brickbats ; we 

 were obliged to eat eggs for dinner. Next day, 

 train to Brine Baths, Nantwich. 



ist April. Cheshire Hounds, Poollane Smithy ; 

 old Reggy Corbet hunting them ; a beautiful pack of 

 hounds. Reggy a grand horseman, but very deaf. 

 Lots of foxes, and ran about all day. Isobel drove 

 to meet with a white hireling. Met Tom Boughey 

 and Lady and Major Rivers Buckley, Lady \Vynn, 

 etc. 



4th. Hailes. Put my horse in train to Drayton 

 and rode on to meet North Staffordshire Hounds. 

 Met Major Harding on the road, who said, " You 

 can meet hounds much nearer at Hawkstone ". I 



