A GREAT WEEK AFTER FROST 437 



so, hounds raced him to Shiickburgh Hill, and (to use 

 Parson Russell's figurative term) " unbuttoned his waist- 

 coat " by the side of the farm buildings beyond. I 

 think we all got away. I am sure we had to ride all 

 we knew to keep hounds in sight or even, for a good 

 while, Major Mackeson in touch. For the pace allowed 

 no dwelling, and the slashing Warwickshire fences per- 

 mitted no chancing. You remember the line, Melton- 

 ians, who came over to ride it one day in December, and 

 went away appreciative. 



I recall from the hubbub of to-day's jovial ride Lord 

 Chesham and Mr. Joliffe making strong play at starting, 

 then after the canal Major Mackeson singling himself 

 out in pursuit of the big dogs (running their hardest 

 noisily in close cluster). Before my eyes still is that 

 close-cut fence into the first grass lane, and in my ears 

 the crash with which it at once resounded from three 

 different spots. I can still look down into that Curtian 

 gulph which the leading men had flown as if it were 

 six feet rather than an honest sixteen. And I shall long 

 remember the heated struggle with which the last few 

 fences were clambered over — the sun, the south wind, 

 the holding turf, and the tremendous pace having all 

 told their tale. And yet there were at least two ladies 

 among the leading dozen that climbed Shuckburgh Hill, 

 the two I mean being Mrs. Burn and Mrs. Everard 

 Brown, the latter having learned her riding in Aus- 

 tralia. 



Arrived on the top, those in the van could see the body 

 of the pack just breaking covert. Next moment they 

 discerned some five couple who, dashing through with 

 a lead, had snapped their fox by the farm buildings of 

 Shuckburgh House. Gad ! it was a hot and cheery 

 experience. I am afraid I should hardly have been 

 able to enter even this much in my diary, but that the 

 young gentleman who is ambitious enough to style 

 himself my " second-horseman " considered I must by 

 now have had quite enough, and accordingly took my 

 other horse off to the train. Thither I had meekly to 

 follow, while hounds trotted back in the cool of the 



