34 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



amputation for a white swelling, and the loss is supplied 

 by cork." 



Mr. Rahy. " What a game man must Jones be ! I 

 have often wondered, Mr. Somerby, that Mr. Meynell 

 should reside at Quorndon Hall, as I see, by the map, 

 that it is situated quite at the outside of the most open 

 and best part of the county. I conclude, however, that it 

 is, as a residence for a master of foxhounds, in every 

 respect complete." 



Mr. Somerby. "Quorndon Hall, as a house, although 

 pleasantly situated, on the bank of the river Soar, which 

 runs partially through the grounds, has no pretension 

 beyond the rank of country gentlemen's houses in general ; 

 neither is it upon a large scale. Its situation, also, is not 

 central ; but it has one advantage, which Mr. Meynell 

 thinks much r of. It is within easy reach of the forest 

 of Charnwood, which affords excellent opportunities for 

 making young hounds, as well as of cub-hunting, in the 

 autumn, with the old ones. That forest abounds with 

 foxes is good scenting ground ; and we hunt there long 

 after the good country is shut up ; in fact, until May-day, 

 at which .period of the year it is desirable, for more 

 reasons than one, that hounds should not have far to 

 travel to cover. Mr. Meynell is, therefore, partial to 

 Quorndon as a residence ; and he has a temporary kennel 

 in the Market Harborough country, in which his hounds 

 lie, when the fixture is in that quarter." 



Mr. Raby. " You are, I conclude, domiciled at Melton 

 Mowbray. All I know of that town is, from having once 

 passed through it, on my road to the north of England ; 

 but I did not get out of my carriage. It appeared to be 

 but an insignificant place." 



Mr. Somerby. " And it is so ; it possesses but one inn, 

 and that a very bad one ; no bank, and very few good 

 houses. But it is well situated for a sportsman, during 

 his residence in the county ; as almost every good cover in 

 Mr. Meynell's, as well as in the other hunts, is to be got 

 at from it ; and, weather permitting, no man need remain 

 idle in Melton from want of being able to reach hounds." 

 Mr. Raby. " Do you hunt every day ? " 

 Mr. Somerby." I do." 



Mr. Raby. " Is not the fatigue of hunting six days in 

 the week more than the generality of constitutions will 

 bear without injury ?" 



