1S77— 7S.] A PREFACE TO THE SEASON. 199 



nearl}' all the small field swing over it, and go on "^-ell pleased 

 with themselves ; for the sheep and an inside place have let 

 well-nigh everyone np again. To Thumb}' Spinney but not 

 into it. Merrily on past it, with fences that tempt j'ou to 

 jump, and a green spring board under your feet. A blind 

 ditch now and then, that might swallow your horse had he 

 time to blunder, and black hedges that make him rise as if at a 

 wall. Piercing straight into Mr. Tailby's country, a second 

 little covert (has it a name ?) is passed in full career. A 

 minute more, yonder he goes only two fields to the good, and 

 the bitches all bristling for his blood. But he is not caught 

 3'et ; and still they dash on with the notes of death spm^ring 

 him forward. Here is Little Stretton, and here ai*e all the 

 villagers rushing madly out, hats and bonnets in the air, and 

 Bulgarian yells in their throats — " Ye'-taallyho ! " the old 

 familiar stirring sound. Up a single hedgerow, and boldly 

 over the open field. "Loo-loo-loo!" and, snapping at his 

 foes, the old fox rolls over game to the last. Now you may 

 jump off, loose your gii'ths, loose jouv tongue, talk like a fool 

 if you wish ; for every moist red face around you is radiant 

 with sjinpathetic, exuberant joy. 



A light honest sporting run it was, hounds doing nearly all 

 of themselves and by themselves. It couldn't all be fast, but 

 most of it was, and the comitry was perfect, while the field was 

 almost a miniature one for our (shall I say ?) too popular 

 county. A pretty find, a handsome run, and a brilliant finish 

 — would you ask for more ? And among those who went home 

 satisfied I think I may venture to give the names (in addition 

 to those leading ones already written) of the Master and 

 Miss E. Webster, Miss Paget, the Messrs. Barclay, Captain 

 Henry, and other Captains, Gibsone, Grimston, King, etc. ; 

 Lord Castlereagh, Messrs. Johnson, Warner, Cradock, and 

 Thorp — Melton being as yet but scantily represented. 



