The Belvoir. 13 



That this picture is a true and fair sample of what 

 constaiitly_, though by no means invariably^ occnrs, we 

 could give countless instances to prove. But having 

 sketched it for the double purpose of making the 

 stranger aware of what he must be prepared to meet, 

 and of showing (in all charity towards our neigh- 

 bours^ self-estimate and our own) how impossible it is 

 for the very keenest of us to be always " luith hounds/' 

 in the thorough sense of the term — we may add that, 

 for men by habit and constitution fitted to take their 

 part in such a scene, there are few things in life 

 more enjoyable than the short sharp scurries of the 

 Belvoir, over the closely fenced meadows of their 

 Melton country. 



Take Coston covert, and the grass line (for there 

 are two oft-travelled and widely differing routes) to 

 Woodwell Head ! Seventeen more cheery minutes 

 never sweetened existence ! Turn from the southern 

 extremity to the northernmost of this the more 

 fashionable section of the Belvoir territory, and ride 

 a twenty minutes from Mr. Sherbrooke^s covert to 

 the Curate ! Be fortunate enough to pick a plum on 

 either of these occasions ; and your palate, once 

 treated to such fruit, will be greedy for a return to 

 the exhilarating food — nor grudge a score of failures 

 in the quest ! 



To leave generalities and turn to detail. From 

 Grantham, then (for at present we are only consider- 

 ing Melton indirectly, and from such a light as its 

 vicinity and attributes may affect the visitor to 

 Grantham), you will find yourself every Wednesday 

 and each alternate Saturday, wending your way 



