164 THE CREAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. [Season 



the race and steeplechase meetmgs, were there to assist at the 

 last effort of the more mdigenous sport. Despite the near 

 advent of the end, both men and horses seemed fresh and gay 

 as they cantered over the greensward to Cream Gorse. Sorrow 

 may or may not have been in their hearts, but they showed it 

 not in face or manner. If apparent anywhere, it was in their 

 coats. Those of the horses looked ragged and patchj' ; those 

 of their masters — well not quite that, perhaps, but, excepting 

 some few brilUant instances of spring gi-owth, exceeding 

 sorrowful. And there were some hats — oh dear, we won't speak 

 of them ! "We know we thought to do a bit of cheap charity 

 by presenting om^ own to an old almsman hard by the stable 

 yard ; and were only partially gratified when he thanked us 

 warmly, adding " It war just the thing he wanted for that 

 there bit o' new sown peas in his slip o' garden." How- 

 ever, a new coat or a new hat at the close of the hunting 

 season is an object so contrary to the true order of things, as to 

 raise rather a spuit of cm-iosity than of covetousness in breasts 

 or heads hidden under more weatherbeaten garments ; and 

 they are generally held as betokening in the wearer either an 

 access of fortune or a deplorable recklessness. 



From Thorpe Trussels a fugitive at length took the desired 

 line towards the Dalby grass, but hounds had to be lifted on 

 over the dust of the fallows beyond before an}^ amusement 

 ensued. Then they were laid on quickly, and once more ere 

 the season ended the field were treated to some galloping and 

 jumpmg, and to the sight of hounds running" up to a fan- head. 

 So on over half a dozen nice fences and a few Leicestershire 

 fields past the Great Dalb}' windmill, which lies beside a road, 

 into which a fair flight of rails and a mild thorn fence pomted 

 the only way. The combination Avas not a severe one ; but 

 horses are seldom fond of flying into a road, especially after un- 

 pleasant proof of how j)ainful a concussion even hardened turf 

 can cause. So, though a brown horse popped cleverl}^ in, and 

 a grey landed with a loud grunt (we saw him advertised for 

 sale a while since as " making a noise," so there is no treason 



