XXVII 



THE MEET 



THE M.F.H. AS HOST IN DISCHARGE OF HIS SOCIAL DUTIES 



INTRODUCING A FEW FRIENDS 



HE meet to-day is at, say, the Master's house ; 

 time, half-past ten ; the hour for going to 

 covert, eleven. 



During the preliminary minutes the guests 

 saunter about the grounds or visit the stables to look to the 

 condition of their mounts. The great dining-hall is open 

 to all who come, its hospitable board laden with choice 

 joints of cold meats, salads, and fruits, and decorated with 

 rare plants and flowers. The sideboard is a forest of bottles; 

 beer, wine, champagne, sodas, or milk are there for one's 



choice. 



Before long the members begin to arrive, leaving their 

 horses in the first empty stall or box they come to, from 

 which the Master has had his own horses removed to make 

 room for them. You may see their riders presently going in 

 couples across the beautiful lawn toward the house to pay 

 their respects to the Master, and have, as the Scotch say, 

 " a wee nip" before going to covert. Soon a steady pro- 

 cession of carriages and pedestrians is moving up the drives 



