1870— 71. J A SPURT FROM SCRAPTOFT. 15 



Baggrave Hall was the meet; and, as hunting men don't 

 often stop at home for rain, there was almost as strong a 

 muster as usual, except that the place of rendezvous furnished 

 the sole representative of the governing sex, in the person of 

 Mrs. Burnaby. Bain and wind had been hard at work from 

 daybreak ; and the weather might have entered into an en- 

 gagement to give Cording and Edmiston an advertisement 

 meet, shapeless figures and neutral tints being the order of the 

 day. As noon came on and the sky brightened, the outer 

 shells were gradually discarded, and marvellous costumes dis- 

 closed, such as a Quorn Friday has seldom had to blush for. 

 It would appear that Nathan rather than Poole had been 

 called in to protect High Leicestershire against the elements, 

 or that Brian O'Lynn had been the purveyor of breeches in 

 preference to Tautz and Anderson. Charity forsooth would 

 have begun at home, had a large consignment at once been 

 made to the French Peasant Belief Association. But where 

 so many were peculiar, no man could feel the cUsagrement of 

 being particular ; and the way in which the fancy dresses 

 made light of the big country calls one to apologise for 

 remarkmg on them. 



Scraptoft Gorse is usually looked upon as a certainty, and, 

 the kill in covert that solemnised the last visit had had 

 plenty of time to sink mto forgetfulness. The hounds were 

 scarcely among the furze before the master's horn was heard 

 on the village side. Excited and eager the pack rushed out to 

 the call. Picking up the line at once, they dashed off towards 

 Scraptoft, and ran two fields parallel to the scrambling crowd 

 in the lane. 



A fau' open outlet scarce hindered a moment ; but two 

 hundred choice spirits will hinder themselves in their eager- 

 ness, and the gateway should have been six times as broad to 

 meet the views of those who strove to pass. 



What thronging, dashing, raging, rushing ! 

 AVliat spurting, babbling, crowding, bustling 

 As lieaven and earth were overturning ! 



