The Sport of Our Jtncesto7^s 



of backstairs worldly wisdom, and advice as to the different 

 way he should behave were he in a nobleman's castle or 

 in the house of a commoner, should on no account be 

 missed. 



Mrs. Pringle writes to her son in a manner which is 

 almost Chesterfieldian, and displays an acquaintance with 

 the manners and customs of the servants hardly less intimate 

 than that of Dean Swift. In one respect she will gain our 

 sympathy more readily than Lord Chesterfield. He despised 

 Fox-hunting, saying that it was only fit for bumpkins and 

 boobies. Mrs. Pringle knew better. She despised every 

 sport except Fox-hunting. Her ideas about Fox-hunting 

 were rather vague, but her instinct told her that ' the best 

 introduction for a young man of fortune was at the covert 

 side.' But Billy did not exactly enjoy his first day's hunting. 

 He was not only thoroughly frightened, but suffered sharply 

 from loss of cuticle ; and wrote to his mamma suggesting 

 that he should leave the castle before losing any more. 

 She did not wish him to outstay his welcome there, but 

 was determined that he should become a Fox-hunter. So 

 she wrote to him regarding the length of his visit, and 

 also knew well how to appeal to his love of clothes 

 in order that he might be induced to stick to the hunting- 

 field, and so get himself on in the world. Her letter 

 will bear quoting. The opening of it will be better 

 understood if one remembers that on arriving at the castle 

 Billy had mistaken the groom of the chambers for the 

 Earl. 

 32 



