218 TBE CREAM OF LEICESTERSHIRE. [Season 



and a blush mantled o'er faces long callous to such a weakness, 

 save under the generous promptings of Lafitte or fox-hunting. 

 And, ye Heavens, how they all meant going when the crisis 

 culminated in a swift scun'y to Willoughby Covert ! 'Tis a 

 line that I, at least, do not remember to have ridden before. 

 But it was an exhilarating and not too difficult a one ; and 

 suited all ; for each and every one entered with all his strength 

 into the spirit of the moment, and not one man but a hundred 

 were to the front. 



Half an hour at Willoughby Covert terminated Eeynard's 

 existence and the dav's outing. 



THE PINK WEDDING. 



** The Belvoii- will meet at the House, Melton Mowbray, at 

 12 on Wednesday, Dec. 12," was the announcement. Sjiring 

 is, happily, far away as yet. Why ; then, the time and place ? 

 It was with a view to ushering a j^oung pair, with aU honours, 

 into the springtime of wedded life. Melton and matrimony are 

 not always and invariabl}' in accord ; but for the nonce Melton 

 placed itself under the leadership of its patron goddess in her 

 duplicate capacity-, and did homage at the shrine of Diana 

 Lucina. Mr. C. Samuda led Miss Cecile Markham to the 

 altar, attended by the presence and good v/ishes of such a bevy 

 of " sportsmen in scarlet array" as has never graced a wedding 

 before. Orange blossom in the foreground, fifty garments of 

 newest pink in the background, surely even the old church of 

 Melton never held so gay an assemblage ! The bride Melton- 

 born ; the bridegroom a Meltonian staunch, surely 'twas a 

 fitting wedding, for two souls whose second common love is 

 the chase. The Duke of Eutland in person graced the 

 marriage and the meet. His departure with the hounds (to 

 Mr. Burbage's covert) was practically cotemporary with that of 



