MY FATHER AT DANEBURY. 249 



Pryse-Pryse and Etwall. Surely these supporters 

 were enough to have kept him from lack of horses to 

 train, even without the aid of Lord George Bentinck ! 

 Of my father himself, in his professional capacity, I 

 ma}*, in closing this special reference to the patrons 

 of Danebury, say a few words. To him, his business 

 was a pleasure. He was never away from it when 

 he could be there. His whole thoughts were 

 absorbed in it, until it became an enjoyment, as real 

 as lasting, of which he partook without stint. He 

 brought it, by indefatigable labour and arduous study, 

 to a pitch of perfection in all its bearings, to which 

 it had never attained before. Once at Danebury, 

 in reply to a nobleman who asked him if he hunted, 

 he replied laconically : 



■ Yes, I hunt every day, my lord, with my horses 

 — that's my hunting.' 



Nevertheless, in fine weather, when the hounds 

 met at Clatford Oakcuts, a cover close by, he would 

 about two or three times in the season meet them, 

 mounted on a thoroughbred, and wearing a great- 

 coat. Directly they found, he would ride to the 

 tail of the hounds ; but at the first check, which was 

 often caused by his over-riding, he would take out 

 his watch, and say to those that might be near him : 

 ' It's half-past twelve, gentlemen, and I am off to my 

 dinner,' and would gallop a good part of the way back 

 again ; and this comprised the whole of his amuse- 

 ments, outside of his home and stable, for the year. 



