8o Saddle and Sirloin. 



roond tit sooth ye'll see sun ; be it dusk, ye'll see stars 

 better ; if there's nobbut fog, it's a job." With these 

 observations he collapsed, and we changed trains at 

 Aspatria for Whitehall, once " The Fair Ladies" in 

 the parish of All Hallows. 



There is a tradition that it was the home of the 

 Misses Arthuret, of whose hospitality Alan Fairford 

 speaks in " Redgauntlet." A skilful modern hand has 

 been at work since then ; but the old spirit lingers 

 there in all its fulness, and " Welcome the coming 

 speed the parting Guest" may well be carved in stone 

 above the door. There they come during the summer 

 in one continuous stream archbishops, bishops, cler- 

 gymen, school-inspectors, M.P.'s out of business for 

 the recess, recorders, authors, sculptors, artists with 

 the rich harvest of many a happy vale and mountain 

 hour in their portfolios, devotees of St. Partridge, and 

 brother-merchants en route from the lakes. Lord 

 Brougham has left traces of his stay in a complete 

 collection of his works, with his rugged autograph in 

 each. London Scripture-readers and their wives re- 

 cruit their strength with quiet strolls and fresh moun- 

 tain air ; and some bright afternoon the whole force 

 of the establishment is brought to bear vigorously on 

 tea for 1200 school children and their teachers. If we 

 look seawards down the Vale of Ellon, we are re- 

 minded how the Salmon-Fishery Commissioners, Mr. 

 Walpole and Mr. Frank Buckland, issued forth one 

 morning from those portals ; and how they waded 

 about all day like Newfoundlands, and conducted 

 diplomatic negotiations with millers under their very 

 water-wheels. Some of the Fantail, Musical, and 

 Charmer shorthorn tribes are tenants of the park, and 

 the venerable white horse, which Mr. George Payne 

 rode when he hunted the Pytchley, is still earning his 

 corn in the carriage. 



Mr. Foster, like his neighbour and old schoolfellow, 

 comes back to the scenes of his boyhood in summer 



