" THE COTTESMORE IN 1826." 23 



have myself known to happen. He is very keen and 

 rides like a dragoon. His horse, like the horses of 

 most hunting parsons, is a good one ; will jump a 

 factory if called upon, and the tout ensemble is neat 

 as paint and full of go. He is one of the most 

 unruly of the company, and knowing that he must 

 be at home for his funeral at three, and that his 

 work after hunting is ready cut out for him, he wishes 

 to make the most of things, and seems inclined to 

 ride after the fox. Colonel Lowther, however, does 

 not seem to see the matter in the same light he does, 

 and, without blustering at him or using any unseemly 

 language, simply reminds him that, fast as he is, he 

 is not fast enough to catch the fox, and rebukes him 

 mildly and sarcastically in the following terms : " Do 



hold hard, Mr. ; do, pray, hold hard. You're 



very fast, we all know, but not quite fast enough to. 

 catch him without the hounds ; you'll have an oppor- 

 tunity of showing your speed before the day is out, 

 and you may want it all before you go home. Do, 

 pray, hold hard, and let the hounds get out." Both 

 Lord Lbnsdale and Colonel Lowther could, if re- 

 quired, say a quietly cutting thing, but I never heard 

 an oath or coarse word come out of the mouth of 

 either, however severely their tempers may have been 



