74 THE BEST OF THE FUN 



It has been laid down by some capable authority — I 

 think it was " Scrutator " — that if you want to ingratiate 

 yourself with the huntsman of a pack to which you 

 happen to arrive as a stranger, you cannot do better than 

 open the ball with some remark appreciative of his hounds. 

 A charming instance of this policy came to ear a week or 

 two ago, on the occasion of a lawn meet, and even of an 

 address from the Master in office. On this occasion 

 Stranger (there are a good many on our weekly bank 

 holiday, so the pseudonym cannot be regarded as personal) 

 took advantage of the momentary lull at the conclusion of 

 the Master's words, and lost no time in putting the good 

 old principle into practice. " Mr. Chirpy," he began, ad- 

 dressing the huntsman by name, " I notice your hounds " 

 (they were the little lady pack, please note) " are not 

 nearly so massive or powerful as the Coal and Iron Hounds 

 that I am accustomed to hunt with " (naming a pack 

 that Will Chirpy had been wont to hold as very small 

 beer indeed). " How do you account for that ? " he 

 persisted, while the huntsman sat aghast till every feature 

 of his sport-worn face began working with repression of 

 feeling. That no retort escaped his lips, I take to be 

 stronger evidence of Will Chirpy's command of temper 

 and of self than even his cool presence of mind among 

 the galloping hundreds. Turning from the questioner to 

 his first whip, he merely inquired in leisurely syllables, 

 that were cutting only from their very calmness — " Who's 

 that gentleman, John ; do you know ? " Then, as if 

 conscious he could bear the strain no longer, " Put 'em 

 up, Alfred. No good messing here. Beg pardon, my 

 lord, did you say I was to move off ? " 



Wednesday Night, February 24. — The pleasant task of 

 noting the sport of to-day I shall leave till to-morrow. I 

 doubt if any of the band of matured young fellows would 

 care to undertake it, who did their duty by the Pytchley 

 Hunt Ball of last night and have since been subjected to 

 a thorough wet morning, a long day of constant galloping, 

 to say nothing of subsequent steaming bath and well- 

 earned evening of quiescence (a word that you may render 

 according to your special habits and proclivities). Of the 



