192 THE QUORN HUNT 



rather unwise remarks about farmers beino- allowed to 

 hunt, a remark which amused the Leicestershire people 

 immensely, and is certainly not on all-fours with the cut- 

 and-dried statements one hears at puppy shows and 

 elsewhere, and the universally admitted fact that farmers 

 are the backbone of hunting. The Rolleston meet, how- 

 ever, more resembled a Derby Day than a hunting- 

 fixture. Coaches and carriages came pouring in from all 

 directions, and seventeen hundred people are said to 

 have passed through one gate alone ; while another 

 division, which in itself would have constituted a large 

 field, took another route. About one-third of the whole 

 field were in pink, and the majority of the horses were 

 certainly entitled to be called hunters, though of course 

 a good many rough specimens were pressed into service 

 for the occasion. 



Dick Burton was on the lawn, surrounded by his 

 hounds and a number of horsemen, and when Mr. Smith 

 appeared he was most warmly greeted, none giving him 

 a more hearty welcome than his old friends the farmers. 

 The hounds, it was seen, had lost none of their high 

 standard. They were very handsome, and possessed 

 considerable family likeness. 



The unlucky Prince Ernest did not make his appear- 

 ance until twelve o'clock, a circumstance which caused 

 some delay, as Mr. Smith waited for him. His lateness, 

 however, did not surprise those who had heard that on 

 arriving at Lord Cardigan's house a few days before, 

 four hours after the time fixed for dinner, he insisted 

 upon having a warm bath before he joined the half- 

 famished party awaiting his august presence. He is said 

 first of all to have glanced at the hounds, expressed his 

 astonishment at such a multitude of people coming to 

 look at him, when, in point of fact, writes one of those 

 who were present, not one-third knew he was there at all, 

 and not one in twenty that he was expected. He then 



