388 THE BEST OF THE FUN 



the Grafton, Showseley Common (do you know it ?) to 1 

 Walgrave of the Pytchley — -the latter seven or eight miles ' 

 adrift of Northampton. " Don't give away our Monday 

 country by cracking it up," quoth our senior optimist of I 

 this region. " My dear Nestor," said I — this is at one j 

 o'clock — " I have seen nothing yet but mud and water, '< 

 and occasional wood. I think I can choke the public off | 

 these ! " t 





Mr. C. Beatty alone followed John's example 



Now, it happens that though, like St. Paul, Rouianus 

 sum — i.e. Pytchley-bred-and-born — I have never before seen 

 this obscure nursery-ground of the Hunt. I have heard 

 tales oft-repeated of its wealth of sport and its fund ol 

 joviality, and I confess I accepted one full half as the 

 outcome of family partnership (I am not about to give 

 you away, nioii secretaire). Twelve of the county, and 

 twenty-four of the county town is, I take it, an average 

 apportionment of the pleasant little Monday field that 

 disports itself over a country that might well afford even 



