OBSERVATIONS ON FOX-HUNTING 85 



I shall be looked shyly upon by all ; no, I will 

 join the hunt, and if I cannot attend them in 

 the field, I will at the club dinner. It is only 

 the sacrifice of a pheasant or two, and a few 

 rabbits, and I shall then be on friendly terms 

 with the whole neighbourhood." I also am a 

 great advocate for a ball and supper, to please 

 the ladies, being convinced things cannot go on 

 right unless they are in good humour ; and I 

 am certain nothing on earth is more gratifying 

 to a good sportsman than to give pleasure to 

 the fair sex. I have known it the means of saving 

 many a fox from being trapped ; for instance, 

 a known vulpicidal character, who had three or 

 four daughters that were " come out," and Mama, 

 wishing to introduce them at the hunt ball, aware 

 of the awkwardness of the case, begins the attack 



at breakfast, — " Sure, I\Ir. B , its very hard 



our poor girls cannot go to the hunt-ball because 

 of your nasty pheasants ! You can't refuse them, 

 when I inform you that the eldest son of Sir G. 



R , Bart. ]\I.P. is to be there ; and you know 



he has lately paid some attention to our dear 

 daughter Charlotte ! " Miss also says, " Papa 

 cannot be so unkind as to prevent his Charlotte 

 from going to the only ball this winter." Then 

 Sophia, the second daughter has at him, — " My 

 own dear Papa always said he was delighted 



