58 THE BEST OF THE FUN 



may be a not wholly welcome condition. As for instance 

 on Friday, when a biting atmosphere, a rising glass, and 

 (most fatal sign of all !) the suddenly improved scent of 

 the day combined to forecast a coming frost. Then do 

 the stars lose half their bright fascination, and even the 

 Great Bear, who has been good enough to pilot me home- 

 ward more nights of my hunting life than I care to 

 count up, ceases to be welcomed as a chum of old 

 time. As a matter of fact, it is usually only the last 

 few miles of the journey that pall upon the ordinary 

 votary, and tempt him to the momentary disloyalty of 

 undervaluing the candle he has elected to burn. By 

 that time he has probably thought out every thought 

 he cares to allow dwelling-place in his mind, has called 

 up every vision of past or future that is pleasant or 

 profitable to commune with, till finally he descends to the 

 practical, and finds himself grossly wondering what he 

 has for dinner. He feels very empty, and his tired horse 

 insists on kicking every pebble out of his path. This last 

 is, to my mind, the most trying and painful development 

 of a long road-ride after hunting. It is not only irritating 

 to your own nervous system, but it necessitates constantly 

 a sharp appeal — cruel, doubtless, but sadly unavoidable — 

 to the wearied animal that he may, for his own sake and 

 yours, keep on his legs yet a little longer. Oh, Lady 

 Florence, Lady Florence, how could you ? They tell me 

 you have broken out with a philippic against the Cruelty 

 of all Sport. Is it the memory of many a long ride home 

 to Melton that has prompted you, you who could not 

 wittingly have inflicted cruelty in any other fashion ? 



By the way, my readers, have you a good recipe for 

 " chronic cough," an ailment that is far more prevalent 

 than you would imagine in the stables of the Grass 

 Countries ? Here is one much in vogue. It " has stood 

 the test of years," nor is its employment limited, I believe, 

 to Midland hunting-fields. Its efficacy ought therefore to 

 be beyond dispute. Given a sharp bridle, a smart second- 

 horseman fairly conscious of his smartness, and a horse 

 afflicted with a churchyard cough, yet retaining appear- 

 ance and utility sufficient to postpone for the present his 



