THE END OF A LONG REIGN. 201 



to all. We sincerely hope that both you and Lady Theo- 

 dora may be long spared to reside amongst us, and we 

 earnestly trust that you and her Ladyship may enjoy 

 the pleasures of hunting in this Vale for many years to 

 come. 



The reading of the speech was greeted with 

 much applause, and Mr Dampney continued : "I 

 had no idea until this most pleasant duty was 

 started that there was such a unanimous feeling 

 of goodwill towards you, and it speaks volumes 

 for your kind consideration towards us when we 

 find that after having hunted this country for so 

 long a period as sixteen years, during which time 

 a2:riculture has been under the heaviest cloud that 

 has been known during the past century, that you 

 have during the whole of that time held the good- 

 will of the farmers generally. 



" In times of agricultural prosperity," continued 

 Mr Dampney, " it is comparatively easy to hold 

 the goodwill of the farmers, but in times of 

 adversity it is not so easy, and I believe there is 

 scarcely to be found another Master of Hounds 

 who has done so well in that direction." Every 

 word as it was spoken found an echo in the hearts 

 of the listeners, and the throng of eager upturned 

 faces, by nods and smiles and occasional words of 

 confirmation, showed how entirely the subscribers 

 agreed with their spokesman. 



Then came the presentation of a handsome 

 silver bowl to Lady Theodora, the cover of which 

 bore as its emblem a capital model of a foxhound. 



