THE SHIRES. 237 



centres in England. All three, as well as Weedon, are within 

 a couple of hours' journey from London, and can be reached 

 by a 7.30 train in time for an eleven o'clock meet. 



Rugby, indeed, offers a most unlimited choice of delights. 

 Besides the Pytchley, the Quorn, Sir Bache Cunard's, the 

 Atherstone, both the Warwickshire packs and the Oakley are 

 all tolerably handy on various days throughout the week. A 

 gallop with Sir Nathaniel over the Aylesbury Vale can also be 

 encompassed with no extreme labour. There is a capital hotel 

 .and a club, any amount of stabling, and plenty of pleasant 

 company. It would be hard to find a better place anywhere for 

 the man obliged to make London his head-quarters, and yet able 

 to spare a day or two together for his hunting. Almost the only 

 objection to Rugby is its distance from all the kennels of the 

 packs it commands. The meets consequently can often be 

 reached only by rail ; but, on the other hand, of lines of rail- 

 way there is no lack at Rugby. 



To the dwellers at Market Harboro', Sir Bache Cunard's 

 and the Cottesmore are the only packs of convenient resort 

 besides their native Pytchley. It has this advantage over 

 Rugby, that the morning train leaves London half an hour 

 later. By the souls given to festivity, Market Harboro' may 

 probably be thought a little dull, though Mr. Sawyer did not 

 seem to find it so. But to him who regards hunting as a serious 

 'business, not to be mingled with social frivolities, it is a notable 

 place. Like Rugby, it is far from any kennel, but not so far. 



Northampton commands all the southern district of the 

 Pytchley, and the best also of the Oakley, and the Duke of 

 Grafton's. Weedon is much in the same category, with the 

 Bicester and Warwickshire to boot. Lutterworth and Daventry 

 are quiet little places, rather off the line of railways, but per- 

 haps no worse for that. The former is on the extreme west of 

 the country, in a little nook handy for the Atherstone and Sir 

 B. Cunard's. Daventry is on the extreme south, close to the 

 borders of the two Warwickshire packs, the Duke of Grafton's 

 and the northern meets of the Bicester. 



