2 2 SKETCHES IN THE HUNTING FIELD. 



for he would have given his daughter a slice of the 

 moon had he been able to procure it for money ; and 

 from that time forth there was no peace until she was 

 permitted to make the dear dogs' closer acquaintance. 



Old Trewson had never been on a horse in his life, 

 and did not propose to begin galloping about the 

 country at his age and with his figure. But money can 

 do most things. A steady-going old hunter was pro- 

 cured for Miss Kitty, and she was allowed to go out 

 under the charge of an amiable neighbour, an old 

 gentleman who hunted because his doctor ordered it — 

 hunting, as he understood, or at any rate practised it, 

 consisting of jogging to the meet on a sleepy cob, 

 eating sandwiches and drinking sherry until the hounds 

 got away, cantering slowly along at the extreme end of 

 the ruck, after having carefully folded up the remaining 

 sandwiches, screwed on the top of the flask, and stowed 

 his luncheon away. 



The cob was never in a hurry to start, and apparently 

 regarded the horses and hounds, his companions of the 

 chase, with feelings of supreme indifference, faintly 

 tinged with contempt. 



If hounds ran straight they were soon out of sight, 

 and the cob turned his head towards home with any- 

 thing but reluctance ; if they did not disappear speedily 

 the noble sportsman cantered or trotted after them until 

 he came to an obstacle through which the cob could not 

 walk without making some sort of effort in the nature of 

 a jump, when the day's run was voted over, and they 



