98 THE CEEAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. [Season 



as any in the Shires, and who would perhaps have better set 

 off the i^resent picture ; but that the former are stout and true 

 at their work they have proved man}' times this season, and 

 so they were about to prove again to-day. 



The storm that broke over Launde Park Wood had just 

 cleared when a delusion seized the field simultaneously on each 

 side the covert that a fox had broken at its fiirthest end. The 

 one half reached the fancied point of exit in time to find out 

 their mistake, smooth down their wrinkles, and cabnly to 

 receive and jeer at the phalanx who came surging through the 

 plough in hot haste from the opposite side. 



After this it was too cold to stand still, too deep and soppy 

 to move quickly about, too windy to smoke, and too early to 

 eat lunch ; and yet such is the blessed infatuation of hunting, 

 that, though there were no signs of a find, and no prospect of 

 a run when it did come (so said the sages), sportsmen were 

 looking absolutely cheerful. Perhaps there was some slight 

 unrecognised mkling in each prophetic soul of the prospect in 

 store — or, more possibly still, a twelve o'clock meet had 

 brought to the breakfast table of each good Conservative the 

 result of last night's division. 



At length they were led on to Tugby Bushes, gazing on the 

 way with the awe of experience on the wild woodlands which 

 now seemed to be hemming them in on every side. I did not 

 see the wood drawn, but I heard the sudden cheerful clatter 

 that burst forth in its midst, I saw the bright red form flash 

 back across the road, and I almost saw the hackles of a good 

 old squire rise as he waved his hat and cheered on the spotted 

 forms bounding close behind. Swiftly, aye, savagely, the pack 

 dashed into Loddington Eedditch ; and, though the turf along 

 its side and up its length rode fairly firm and sound, thej'^were 

 out beyond as quickly as the foremost men could cover the 

 distance. So they swooped down to Loddington Village, unham- 

 jjered even by the unwelcome interference proffered by a sheep 

 dog, and had put the road and a hundred yards besides to the 

 good before their followers could reach the bottom. The fence 



