THE MASTERS. 13 



widow came forward in the most handsome manner, 

 stating that the Pelhams had always owned the pack and 

 hunted the Brocklesby country free of cost, and that 

 she would continue to do so until her son came of acre. 



The Countess, in dainty habit, with just a suspicion of 

 scarlet waistcoat as a distinguishing badge, marshalling a 

 crowded field the way it should go, and controlling with 

 skilful tact its ebullition of excessive enthusiasm, was a 

 prominent figure in hunting history, more than worthy of 

 a place beside the lady of Hatfield. When hounds ran, 

 too, she could hold her own on Brilliant — the horse she is 

 riding in her picture by Grant — and in later years on 

 Birthday, with the boldest of thrusting strangers. Her 

 ladyship's great popularity helped the Hunt through a 

 period that in other circumstances might have proved 

 almost disastrous. 



Lady Yarborough was then one of the finest horse- 

 women in England ; and though not able now to take her 

 own line over a country where hounds run their hardest, 

 as of yore, she still takes the greatest interest in the pack, 

 both in the field and the kennel, and contrives to get to 

 the end of many a good run as well. No people could be 

 more popular than the Scjuire of Healing and his wife, 

 Victoria Lady Yarborough, and their son " Jack," though 

 still a boy at Harrow, promises to be as fine a horseman 

 as his father, for he can, even now, hold his own with the 

 best of them when the pack runs fast and far. 



Of the present earl little need be said, as he is too 

 well known to need description. Popular as his ancestors 

 have been in the past, they cannot have been more so than 

 is the present master of the historic old pack. Courteous 

 in the extreme, he rules his field with a gracefulness and 

 tact that is the admiration of all visitors, and which is, 

 in the end, far more eff'ective than the vituperation that 

 some masters of hounds think necessary to their oflice. 

 Lord Yarborough realizes the fact that an Englishman, 

 and especially a high-couraged sport-loving Englishman, 

 is far more likely to be led than driven. As his great-great- 



