THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 79 



we have legislators who, if they could, would make that 

 little less ; but, happily for the people, such was not the 

 case in the times to which I allude. The dance round the 

 maypole, on May-day, or on the village green, at Whitsun- 

 tide, the harvest-home supper, the bonfires of November, 

 and the good cheer of Christmas, were looked for and 

 enjoyed as surely as the seasons arrived, and the contribu- 

 tions? to these indulgences, from all the family at the 

 Abbey, were at all times liberal. 



The sirloins of beef, the mince-pies, and plum-puddings, 

 the wine and ale, eaten and drunk under its roof, were in 

 perfect keeping with its baronial exterior ; and jthe cloth- 

 ing and fuel, furnished to the neighbouring poor under 

 the management of Lady Charlotte Raby, were still more 

 abundant. 



The meeting between Frank Raby and his father's 

 huntsman was truly characteristic of both. It is not 

 my intention, here, however, to give a second edition of 

 Frank's appearance with his father's harriers in the field ; 

 although he was complimented, by the huntsman, on the 

 improvement in his liand and nerve, and the judicious 

 remarks he made on some of the leading hounds ; but we 

 will proceed at once to his debut with the foxhounds. 



The morning was cloudy and still, looking like a hunt- 

 ing morning, and the family had all assembled in the 

 breakfast-room, when Sir John made his appearance, the 

 Abbey being only a mile or two out of the road that led 

 to the appointed cover. " Well, Inkleton," said Mr. Raby, 

 after the usual salutations had passed, and pointing to his 

 son Francis, who was clad in a green hunting-coat, and 

 a pair of leather breeches made expressly for the pur- 

 pose, " here is the happiest fellow, this day, in our own 

 county, and, very probably, in the next to it. Andrew 

 says, he has not closed his eyes since three o'clock this 

 morning, praying heartily for daylight. I am sorry 

 I cannot accompany you to the field, as I must attend 

 the bench to-day, but I have ordered Dick, the hunts- 

 man, to do so, and take the young fox-hunter under his 

 care." 



"There is' no necessity for that," replied Sir John ; 

 " one of my hunters having been amiss, is much in want 

 of work, and I have ordered Preston to be at the cover, 

 and he will do all that is required, in piloting Frank ; and 

 you know old Preston is to be depended on." 



