552 FOX-HOUND, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



will not insist too stoutly upon them, nor pursue the subject 

 much further. But glorious a manor as is that of Fawsley, I 

 wish half the gates were locked and the keys lost. Then should 

 we, somehow or other, find means of climbing over most of the 

 doubles, and should not, I fancy, suffer more bruise certainly 

 entail upon each other less mortification from clumsy handi- 

 craft, than now. A man in a hurry, especially if the wind be 

 high or the gate be wet, is not always to be depended on. 

 Some have not even eyes at the back of their heads. While 

 as to women they are (at a gateway) a little variable. But 

 enough. Fences, obligatory fences, have not only their own 

 attractions to recommend them, but they give more room to a 

 big field of horse -people than is provided by any number of 

 gates. 



It will have been gathered, then, that fast and well though 

 the Graf ton hounds ran on Monday after a Wood ford meet 

 incident was, if not altogether wanting, at least monotonous. 

 From Hinton Gorse and Charwelton Osierbed they ran down 

 two foxes, both over the Fawsley estate gates and galloping 

 all the while. 



BEGINNING THE WEEK. 



THERE are ways and ways of killing the week. Hunting six 

 days is of course the only proper principle. But the week has 

 seven, and when the seventh has been duly spent it becomes 

 necessary to return to work. The North- Western Railway 

 admits the principle and frames an indulgence the only 

 indulgence of the week to Weedon, &c. It stops a train (under 

 due notice) that allows hunting men their dinner before starting. 

 But on Sunday last it forgot its programme, and its freight 

 with the result that at 1 2 midnight, or thereabouts, it carried a 

 whole car-load of fox-hunters two stations ahead instead of 

 dropping them at Weedon. They had told all their stories ; 

 wrapped themselves in fur and slumber, wakened at the proper 

 time, restrapped their rugs, and prepared to descend. " A 



