42 8 THE BEST OF THE FUN 



beautiful rough hounds among them. I have read Mr. 

 Foljambe's letter about the hounds going to the cry when 

 he could not distinguish right or wrong. 



'' I had an old bitch, called Abbess, that never would 

 draw, but followed my horse. If a hound spoke she 

 would cock her ears and listen. If it was not good, she 

 took no further notice ; if it was good, she was off like a 

 shot, and I was off after her. 



" Just in time for post. — Yours very truly, 



"J. Anstruther-Thomson. 



" There was a good deal of correspondence in the Field 

 at the time, which I think I have at home. 

 " Do what you like with this." 



Would you, though, learn how to raise your spirits and 

 rectify your thermometer during the next frost (1896, I 

 trust) ? Then do as my young friend— hang the latter on 

 the south side of the house. Expostulated with, he 

 answered, '*Oh, it makes one so much happier to look at 

 it there in the middle of the day." 



CHAPTER LXIX 



A GREAT WEEK AFTER FROST 



How can I suflticiently express the delight of once more 

 riding to hounds over a fair grass country, in the best of 

 company, and to a piping scent ? Only by instance, and 

 such instance you have all, I trust, by now experienced 

 for yourselves. 



Ours was with the Pytchley on Saturday, March 9, 

 1895, when in an hour hounds ran a point of seven and a 

 half miles over the best, and strongest, of their country 

 and Mr. Fernie's. The meet had been Harrington, this 

 time on a dull but lovely hunting morning ; but this time, 

 unfortunately, without the little band of Quornites who 

 have come hither so often in vain. 



But I may hazard a note of some few others whom at 

 this moment I can recall. The most difficult — nay, the 



