A ROUGH HOUR WITH THE PYTCHLEY 45 



that of the inumerable womenfolk — from domestic shiveys 

 up to Worth's young ladies, or even the ill-paid governess 

 class — disappointed in their Sunday out, hurrying never- 

 theless through the pouring rain, embottled in cloak or 

 mackintosh down to their knees, but (as is the manner of 

 women) with feet and ankles merely thin-stockinged and 

 thinner shod, and exposed freely to the driving storm ? 

 But to return to Mid-Northamptonshire, which we do on 

 a Sunday night by the only good train of the week. It 

 gives us time to dine before the journey — which, accord- 

 ingly, finds us sometimes talkative, at others sleepy, ac- 

 cording to the man and his method, or accident, of dining. 

 On the evening in question rain beat heavily against the 

 carriage-window, but through the dim glass a vague moon 

 shone faintly on a water-strewn outlook. One had curled 

 himself into a corner, declined a cigar, and, snoring 

 happily amid the tobacco-cloud through which he was just 

 visible, took neither part in nor, apparently, any notice 

 of the chatter around him. Needless to say, rain and 

 floods were, with sport and want of sport, the main topics 

 of our talk. But the moment the train slackened pace 

 for the Weedon stop, the practised warrior proved that 

 even in sleep he was not unobservant. Up he jumped, 

 rubbing his eyes heartily, and the window-pane methodi- 

 cally. " By Jove! you fellows are right. Look! The whole 

 country's under water. I shan't bother to go out to- 

 morrow at all." " It's the canal, old gentleman, the canal!" 

 roared his irreverent comrades. " Here, Jones, take out 

 the Major's luggage, put him to bed, and treat him for 

 water on the brain ! " All out. Right aboard. And the 

 Major went hunting next morning. 



A Heavy Run with the Grafton 



Preston Capes was their meet. " Any horse that can 

 gallop will do for Fawsley," many argued, and ordered 

 accordingly. " Grass and gates the usual routine, why 

 take out a jumper." And, as it turned out, they had more 

 to jump, and a stiffer trial in store for their horses, than 

 on any day of the season now so nearly approaching its 



