26o The PytcJiley Htmt, Past a7id Present, 



to see the kennels at Brixworth^ the bounds^ as their 

 manner is, began to fawn upon the stranger instead of 

 on their Huntsman. Surprised at this, the unknowing 

 friend sought an explanation, and inquired if the hounds 

 did not like their Huntsman ? ^' Like him ? " was the 

 reply, " Why they hate him ! " Up to this moment the 

 idea of hounds hating their Huntsman had probably never 

 entered the mind of any man_, and the spirit of fun, which 

 was always strong within the utterer of this novel accu- 

 sation, must have had a " high old time " as the words fell 

 from his lips. 



A friend having congratulated him upon the coming 

 into his neighbourhood of a very pretty woman, his only 

 comment was, " She'll be as ugly as the rest if she only 

 lives a few years longer." At another time when 

 authority rested with a Master who governed with a 

 somewhat over-tight hand. Clerk was seen on a very cold 

 morning, whilst hounds were drawing, to take up his 

 position in the middle of a shallow pond. 



" What are you doing that for ? " asked an amused 

 but puzzled friend. 



^* Trying not to head the fox," was the grave and caustic 

 reply. 



For the Christmas-holiday boy there was always a kind 

 and encouraging word from the Spratton cynic. One, 

 long since " married and done for," still recalls the pride 

 he felt, when one day after a smart gallop, as he was 

 washing his pony's mouth out with some water from- a 

 ditch, on hearing the words, " Well done, youngster, 

 you've a better head on your shoulders than many an 

 old one." Looking up, he saw that he was being 

 addressed by a Member of the Hunt he had always 



