BICESTERSHIRE. 151 



interview came abruptly to an end. (Think I shall ride at a 

 fair post and rails now, and judge if a fall over timber can hurt 

 half as much.) 



BICESTERSHIRE. 



A MOST pleasing feature in the Southern Midlands is to be 

 found in the grassy sides attached to every road ; and that, even 

 after the recent deluges, allows of a safe, clear gallop to covert, 

 or of a long pipe-opener on an off-day. The number and 

 direction of these roads are amplified to a degree truly extra- 

 ordinary ; but the way-wardens, of Northamptonshire at all 

 events, decorate all crossings and turnings lavishly with sign- 

 posts that will almost tell you the way to Paradise, or even the 

 number of miles you must travel to get there. That these are 

 sufficient guides for ordinary purposes I can gratefully testify ; 

 but if the kindly officials to whom I refer will forgive me, I will 

 mention (in all good faith) an instance in which even their fore- 

 thought failed signally to carry out their public-spirited inten- 

 tions. On a certain day, and at a certain hour, a certain hunt, 

 as written below, turned abruptly in its cross-country track to 

 regain a covert just left ; and as is usual in such sudden 

 counter-marches, everybody in the field encountered everybody 

 else rider to rider save one, who was footing it hard to the 

 old familiar cry, " Hi, catch," &c. Everybody would only too- 

 gladly have done so, but where was the etcetera? This was 

 evidently the question the well-breeched and unwilling pedes- 

 trian asked himself, for he redoubled his gait till breathlessly 

 he reached the signpost at the four cross roads. Banbury so- 

 many miles, Daventry so many less, and Lutterworth so many 



more ! But where, oh where ? ' ; Three to one on the 



field," said the signpost. " Which way has he gone ? " cried his- 

 comrades. But to neither could he frame a word of reply ; for 

 not even the glimmer of a short-cropped tail was to be seen in 

 the distance. In bitterness of soul he cast his stirrups on the 

 ground (he had 'em both, for safety-stirrups possess ever this- 



