JANUARY JAUNTS 



403 



h;id seemed so mild, and the weather so bahiiy ; daily 

 sport and daily companionship had become so entirely a 

 part of our lives, that this sudden jerking up of the train 

 ^ave us a rude, unwholesome shock. In Northampton- 

 shire we look back upon a course of pleasant days. In 

 Leicestershire they recall some remarkable runs. In fact 

 Melton has, so far, had the best of it. The Quorn have 

 made Stoddart scores ; the Cottesmore have again come up 

 to Tailbyite form. Mr. Fernie does not allow that his up- 

 to-Cluistmas season has been good, though his adherents. 



K^- 



Sicns of wear-and-tear 



and still more his visitors, say otherwise. The complaint, 

 through most of mid-England, and, as I gather, through 

 most of good Ireland, has been that old foxes have been 

 wanting, or in hiding. I can understand this, where a 

 successful huntsman has for seasons past been driving 

 them to death, and where the scourge of mange has been 

 abetting him. But this I can safely aver, viz. that where 

 I happen to have been hunting — in no mean countries — a 

 good scent and a good fox have seldom exhibited them- 

 selves on the same day. 



After Christmas has invariably been our best time with 

 the Pytchley. January often fails us ; and is likely to do 



