ISrS— ro.] A BAGGRAVE FIXALE. 293 



ture. A morning as uncomfortable as weather could make 

 it ; but for all that it was stormy, for all that it was in 

 itself chilly and cheerless, there was nothing in it to shoiilder 

 out the sportsman's hopes and interests. On the contrary, 

 it was a 2^ossible morning, and Avith as little of the languor 

 and dust}" debility of a model spring day, as if dark Decem- 

 ber were back in surly earnest. No, scent was likdij ; a fox 

 a certainty ; a (jood one a probability ; and — and all turned 

 out trumps. 



The Colonel was down, and hall and dining-room were 

 crowded with dripping shivering forms ; while hacks stood 

 steaming outside, and hunters with staring coats, drooping 

 ears, and tail tucked close awaited their masters' exit. 



Full of worthy importance, Mr. Muggleton (Chief of the 

 Staff to the owner of the Prince of Wales' Gorse, and facile 

 iniiiceps among fox keepers) lounged by the hounds on the 

 lawn — awaiting the signal as eagerly as they. *' Hope you'll 

 find him at home, sir ! Never been without him yet ! " No, 

 Muggleton, we'll lose all faith in keepers if we don't ! And 

 now to the Gorse — the Master just in time to prevent its 

 complete encirclement, and Firr's voice raising its testimony 

 to Muggleton almost on the moment. 



[A parenthesis here for the benefit of gorse-growers. Young 

 gorse has been lately planted over any little bare patches 

 in the covert ; and experiment shows tliat the plants thrive 

 better where the grass and weeds have been left round them 

 than where the ground has been kept rigidly clean.] 



A big dog fox breaking right across the open, and running 

 the gaimtlet of the gazing squadrons, straight for the Hall. 

 Carriages to block his path, and folk to shout in his face. Of 

 course he can not go there ; but his bold dash has given him 

 his start, and eventually gives him his life. Wheeling off 

 towards Beeby, he again puts his head straight; Avhile con- 

 fiicting evidence is hindering Firr from an instant dash in 

 pursuit. The delay, though, is only of seconds, and the 

 moment hounds touch tlie line a run is secure. Not room 



