262 "iRiMuo IRecollections an^ Uxxvt Stones 



Baggrave the following day, and a very fine meet it 

 was. Everything in the way of delicacies one could 

 think of was on the table at dinner, and everyone 

 was welcome. On one occasion we had been sitting 

 up rather late, or I might say we didn't get to bed 

 until the small hours of the morning, so naturally 

 none of us were in a great hurry to catch the early 

 worm. We came in to breakfast by instalments, 

 and no questions were asked about the late or early 

 rising. I think the latter would have been quoted 

 at looo to lo. The hounds were advertised to 

 meet at ii.o, as usual, and they arrived punctually 

 at 10.30. I had my breakfast, and went out to look 

 at them, and was talking to the first whip. All at 

 once it struck me I had not seen Tom Firr, so I 

 went into the house and made inquiries. No one had 

 seen him — it was nearly five minutes past eleven — 

 when, just as I was going to look for him, down came 

 Tom in a temper, which was very unusual. He 

 didn't want to have any breakfast, but we insisted 

 upon his having something to eat. Still he 

 didn't have much, and was soon out amongst 

 his "beauties," as he calls them, and declared he 

 was inclined to say he would never leave them 

 again. It was a very easy mistake, and no one 

 can tell how it happened better than myself, as 



