SADNESS IN SUNSHINE 241 



until sport came forward to knock all sadness out of 

 mind, and to make the present appreciable all the more 

 that its pleasures were unexpected. For the yesterday, 

 Friday, had been dull — yes, actually dull — except, per- 

 haps, as viewed by the huntsman, who would seem always 

 to be happy, undaunted, and hopeful, however stubborn 

 the fates, however difficult the prospect. I am speaking 

 of the Pytchley, who were all day quite out of luck and 

 without a scent, and most of the day among wood or 

 plough besides — Nobottle Wood, Harleston Heath, and 

 the neighbourhood of the Northampton Lunatic Asylum, 

 to wit. The Grafton did rather better in their Brackley 

 district, and killed their fox. 



It is in no discontented mood, though, that men and 

 women of the Grass Countries are preparing to accept the 

 inevitable. The one comment is upon the lips of all. 

 " A good season," they protest with emphasis — a season 

 they have enjoyed heartily, and that has gone all too 

 quickly. Thus will they go into summer, loving fox- 

 hunting as much as ever. 



The season, of course, is not yet over ; we may see 

 a great run or two, and share some bright gallops still. 

 But the day-to-day conditions of continual sport would 

 seem to have passed away ; and had we power to invoke 

 a change, we could hardly, bound as we are by friend- 

 ship and obligation to the good fellows who farm the 

 land, wish things otherwise. At this moment of writing 

 (Saturday evening, March 11) the state of both weather 

 and ground is, I suppose, as good as they could desire. 

 On the other hand, the grass is still capital going, and 

 moist enough for scent ; and, allowing that the fallows 

 are dry and scentless, we cannot hurt the wheat. 



Saturday was no record-day, but was by no means 

 uneventful. The Bicester were joined at Lower Bodding- 

 ton by a field of much the same calibre — though, owing 

 to the Grand Military and other attractions, hardly of the 

 same proportions — as usual in their upper Northampton- 

 shire district. At any rate there was room to jump and 

 to ride, and to watch hounds upon the good ground that 

 a Boddington fox soon chose for them. For, choice of 



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