CHAPTER XVI. 



Hunting and Riding — Captain Trotter's Performances in the 

 Field — Pleasant Times at Melton — The Brothers Behrens- — 

 The Farmers' Grievances — Mr. Tailby as Huntsman and 

 Master — An Old English Gentleman — Qualifying Hunters. 



T appears to be the fashion to praise 

 the days when we were young, and 

 I must say that I really think there 

 were more men who really rode 

 hard to hounds twenty-five years 

 ago than there are at the present 

 time. I am positive they were better sportsmen 

 then than now. People then used to ride to hunt ; 

 now they hunt to ride. This is my idea of what I 

 see when I go out. How often I hear some young 

 gentlemen expressing- themselves with delight 

 because the hounds are going to draw Ranksboro', 

 or some other small covert, first thing in the morn- 

 ing, so that they can have what they call a "jolly 



