6o TJie Pytchley Himt, Past and Present, [chap. n. 



bis brother-cleric, the Eev. Mr. Partridge. This gectle- 

 man, beginning to feel some qualms as to the propriety 

 of a clergyman hunting, but unable to forego his 

 favourite amusement, thought to ^^ hedge '^ by appearing 

 in trousers and shoes, intead of the usual breeches and 

 boots. Greatly tickled at this change in his friend^s 

 attire, " -BiUy '^ Dickens forthwith proceeded to christen 

 him '^ Perdrix aux choux.''' 



For many a long year there was no more familiar figure 

 seen at certain of the Quorn and Pytchley meets than 

 that of the E-ev. John Cave Humphrey of Laughton. 

 The long, straight back, the " once-round ^^ white linen 

 scarf, and the raucous voice still dwell on the memory 

 of many a Pytchley man ; as does the form of the fair 

 niece who was said to be the heroine of Whyte-Melville^s 

 immortal " Market Harboro'.^^ For some time it seemed 

 in the eyes of niece as well as uncle, that there was 

 nothing more enjoyable in this world than the hunting- 

 field. " It is a very solemn thing being married," said a 

 parent to his daughter, on her announcing* her accept- 

 ance of a suitor. ^^Yes, father, I know it," said the 

 fiancee, " but it is a deal solemner thing being single ! " 

 So thought, too, the fair huntress of Laughton. Runs 

 with the hounds, however long, all of a sudden seemed 

 to her nothing worth compared with a lifelong run with 

 a husband, and the worthy old rector was left alone in 

 his glory. He, to whom a day with the hounds had 

 seemed for many a year to be the one great enjoyment 

 of life, was now no longer seen with Pytchley or with 

 Quorn ; and after a while, a strange name appeared 

 in the Clergy List as Rector of the parish of Laugh- 

 ton. 



