96 THE NEW FOREST 



much from what fell from these learned pundits, 

 and to get an education in forestry difficult to 

 arrive at otherwise. 



And again, in what is locally called "the April 

 month," viz. from about 15th March to the end 

 of April, when hunting people from all parts of 

 England flocked to the New Forest to finish up in 

 that delightful climate and scenery the ordinary 

 hunting season, I found that quarters in the old 

 Royal hunting box that I occupied were keenly 

 in request, and my spare bedrooms were continu- 

 ously booked as one party succeeded another. 

 And more than that, the inns and lodgings of 

 the village were overflowing at that season, and 

 contained many a good sportsman who was paying 

 a brief visit to see the spring hunting. These, 

 of course, of either sex, had to be gathered in to 

 join our party, and I thiiak I have seen as many 

 cheery, informal dinner parties one after the other 

 during the April month, as the old house can 

 ever have sheltered in its earlier days, far back 

 as they go. 



For this old " Queen's House," as it was when I 

 came to it, but " King's House," as it was before my 

 day, and again after 1901, has a long history, and 

 must have seen and heard a good deal within its 

 walls. 



It was not ever, as many people suppose, a house 



