A long Ride. 21 



bition, a proof of Mr. Smith's ■antiring energy 

 may be related. He was one of the Vice- 

 Presidents, and, of conrse, it was necessary 

 that he shonld be at the opening; but he knew 

 how to combine pleasure with business. He 

 was passionately fond of dancing, and was sure 

 to be well received by the ladies. On the even- 

 ing before the show he rode from his house, 

 near Alton, a distance of eighteen miles, to a 

 ball at Henley Park, near Guildford, and danced 

 until four in the morning. Then he changed 

 his dress, mounted his horse, and rode to 

 Winchester, forty miles off, where he arrived 

 before eleven, the hour for the opening. !N'ei- 

 ther he nor his horse seemed to have suffered 

 from this. Soon after, he rode over to Mr. 

 Chute, at the Vine. It was a frost, but the 

 old squire had the hounds out. The fox took 



a line down Preemantle Hill, one of the steep- 

 est in that country, followed by the hounds. 

 Although there was a large field, Mr. Smith 

 was soon left alone with them; and when, 



