CHAP. IV.] 



George Paynie, Master, 



127 



hipped grey, witli great power, and a hunter all over. 

 A powerful and determined horseman, and knowing well 

 how to make the best of his way over ridge and furrow, 

 he rarely failed to be with his hounds at the right 

 moment. The tones of his voice being especially rich 

 and vocal, it was a treat to hear him encouraging hounds 

 in cover ; and his cheer, when they set-to to run hard, 

 was a thing not easily to be forgotten. The echo of these 

 notes may still ring in the ears of a few who were present 

 at an unlooked-for gallop from Cottesbrooke to Harleston 

 Heath. The meet was at Stanford Hall, but the frost 

 was so severe that on arriving at Cold Ashby, where tLe 

 hounds were awaiting the Master, hunting was voted 

 impracticable. The second whip was sent on to proclaim 

 the fact of the return home of the hounds, and the 

 ground being less bard in the low parts about Stanford 

 Hall, the announcement was received with equal surprise 

 and disgust. Amongst those who rode homeward with 

 the hounds, were Lord Clifden, then living at Brixworth 

 Hall, Mr. Davenport Bromley, Lord Bateman, and Mr. 

 H. 0. Nethercote. Before reaching Cottesbrooke a 

 marked change in the weather had taken place, and 

 riding seemed to have become practicable. Attempts were 

 made to induce the Master to try for a fox, which he 

 refused to do, urging the scolding he should get from all 

 those who had gone home under the belief that there was 

 to be no hunting. On approaching the Hall, Mr. Daven- 

 port Bromley again assailed Mr. Payne with a petition 

 for ''just one try — only one — in that plantation opposite 

 the stables. '' Under the full belief that it did not hold 

 anything except a hare or a rabbit, the Master consented 

 to run the hounds through it. No sooner were they in 



