282 FOX-HUNTING IN THE SHIRES 



sided, leggy horse. There have been some wonderful 

 ponies too. I can recall no less than six ponies that 

 have carried ladies brilliantly over the Shires within 

 a space of but a few years. 



Of all the hunting centres mentioned most women 

 would, I think, like Melton, both socially and as a 

 place to hunt from, better than any other, unless 

 indeed, they prefer altogether a life away from towns 

 in some of the " Halls," " Lodges," and " Granges " 

 which are scattered all over the country. But if in 

 Leicestershire you choose to live in the country, 

 which you may do, from choice or from motives of 

 economy, you must make up your mind to a quiet 

 winter. I have already written about expenses, and 

 of course it is true that people should not try to hunt 

 in Leicestershire cheaply. But there will be some 

 also who can manage necessary expenditure on the 

 stable by care and economy in the house. That 

 this is the case in the Shires any ordinary observer 

 can perceive if he notes the number of small dwellings 

 with extensive, and even splendid, ranges of stabling. 

 These are to be seen in the village streets, and on the 

 outskirts they are converted cottages and farm- 

 houses. But there is, of course, a limit to the stable 

 accommodation, good as it is, and also to the stable 

 staff. Now, in Leicestershire it is impossible in 

 most cases to drive in from one village to another 

 without opening (and, I hope, shutting also) several 

 gates. This makes it quite impracticable to go out 

 without a man. If there are ladies only in a brougham, 

 and the night is wet, they want a footman as well. 

 But work in a hunting stable is hard, and many of 

 us stay at home because it is really difficult and ex- 

 pensive to traverse the two or three miles of gated 

 road which divide us from our nearest neighbours. 



