62 The PytcJiley Hunt, Past and Present, [chap. n. 



more or less spare time was given to hunting the fox, 

 comes one whose costume, habits, and general lack of 

 self-devotion to the things more immediately pertaining 

 to his walk in life, rendered him, for full half a century 

 a conspicuous member of society. The scion of an old 

 Leicestershire stock, noted for its love for sport of any 

 kind, Mr. Loraine Smith inherited a full share of the 

 '^ family failing." For such a one to take " holy orders " 

 is indeed to mistake one's profession. But humanum 

 est errare ; and at that time to be shovelled into the 

 Church was a provision for a son eagerly sought for by 

 puzzled and impecunious parents. By nature and edu- 

 cation more of a country squire than a country parson, 

 tbe Rector of Passenham, near Stony Stratford, a small 

 parish without exacting duties, made fox-hunting his 

 chief occupation and amusement. A brilliant horseman, 

 strong and determined, the Grafton Hunt had no finer 

 rider among its members, nor one whom a stranger 

 would so speedily pick out as '' the character " of the 

 party assembled at the meet. Barely tolerating the 

 black coat that was the index of his profession, his 

 hunting waistcoat had a broad scarlet binding, and the 

 colour that was forbidden to himself came out in bold 

 relief on the riding habits of the lady members of his 

 family. Present for once in a way at a " Visitation " 

 held at Northampton, the rigid sombreness of his clerical 

 attire attracted the attention of two hunting church- 

 wardens, who had never seen his reverence in black and 

 all black. " I'll bet you a bottle of wine there's some 

 scarlet about him somewhere," said one. " Done with 

 you," said tbe other, and lost his bet ; as on closer 

 investigation a scarlet uuder-waistcoat was discovered 



