90 SKETCHES IN THE HUNTING FIE ID. 



the mealy chestnut placidly cantered along without any 

 sign of distress. 



Hounds and horses alike fared badly under the 

 Scruton regime^ which came to an end with an early 

 close to the season. 



Scruton was practically succeeded by a lady ; for 

 jDoor young Thynne, under the direction of a severe 

 mother, who insisted that his position in the county 

 required it, and that she was sure his uncle — Lord 

 Pytchley — would wish it, was reluctantly compelled to 

 take the hounds. 



JMoney was no object, and Thynne, a feeble-minded, 

 weak-eyed, and generally limp young man, paid all 

 expenses. Thynne could ride a little, but hated the 

 whole business, though he had not much trouble, as his 

 mother kept a stern eye on the conduct of affairs. One 

 of her first proceedings was to send for Vale, the hunts- 

 man, and tell him that she " wished the foxes' skins to 

 be preserved." Poor Vale was aghast at the idea. 



"How do you mean, ma'am? " he presently ventured 

 to ask. 



" I wish them brought to me, always," she severely 

 rejoined. 



" But, ma'am, I can't ! " poor Vale said, 



" And why not, pray ? " she still more sternly desired to 

 know, probably supposing that the " foxes' skins" were 

 a perquisite which the huntsman unlawfully claimed. 



" Hounds eat 'em, ma'am ! " Vale earnestly ex- 

 plained. 



