AN ECCENTRIC CHASE. 247 



" Won't he be back this afternoon ? " I inquire. 



" No ; we couldn't persuade him to stay. They were 

 going to draw towards Chorlington, and hounds are 

 almost certain to run towards Hartlebury, so he will put 

 up his horse and catch the train. He must be in town 

 this evening, as he is going to Gloucester, I think he 

 said, to-morrow," I am informed. 



To Gloucester, no doubt, to see Muffin Boy take that 

 expensive gallop. 



" If you are so anxious to see him at once you had 

 better get on a horse and try to catch them up. They 

 only left some half-hour ago, and as it is the first 

 morning there may be some delay. We shall be very 

 glad to see you if you can come back, and, if not, leave 

 your horse at either of the inns and he can be fetched 

 with Herbert's," Lord Horchester kindly suggested, and 

 I was glad to accept. 



There was, of course, no time for boots or breeches, 

 even if I could have borrowed anything of the sort, and 

 as I have tried borrowed breeches on one occasion, I 

 should not have been eager to repeat the experiment, 

 incongruous and opposed to the unities as trousers may 

 seem at a meet. Within seven minutes I had swallowed 

 two glasses of peach brandy, made play with some 

 sandwiches that happened to be at hand, and was on 

 the back of a wiry little chestnut mare, galloping along 

 the grass by the side of the road at a very respectable 

 pace. The meet at the cross roads was a good six 

 miles from the Towers, and in less than half an hour I 



