HUNTING IN THE IVUDLANDS 163 



by timid papas and well-drilled grooms in attend- 

 ance, Alice and Clara Vernon put their horses at 

 the first fence, and that surmounted had fairly 

 crossed the Eubicon. Nay, the contagion of the 

 enthusiasm spread, as is always the case on such 

 occasions, for their revered parents themselves were 

 unable to resist the attraction. Sir Cloudesley 

 Spanker asserted his position in the first rank, as 

 did also the distinguished novelist, his guest. 



It has been remarked that all runs with fox- 

 hounds are alike on paper and different in reality. 

 We were fortunate enough to have one that was 

 certainly above the average with the Chipping- 

 ton hounds. Our fox chose an excellent line of 

 country, and all our party from the Lion enjoyed 

 the distinction of being in at the death. Mishaps 

 there were, for all the bad jumpers came signally 

 to grief. Old Sir Cloudesley related with much 

 grim humour the melancholy aspect that two dis- 

 mounted strangers presented who had taken up 

 their lodging in a ditch. The two Miss Vernons 

 acquitted themselves admirably ; so did the rector, 

 and I am disposed to think that the company both 

 of the ladies and the farmers vastly improved our 

 hunting field. It is quite certain that clergymen, 

 more than any other race of men, require active 

 change, and they need what they can get nowhere 



