272 HUNTINGCROP HALL 



pleasant people, in some measure restored me ; but 

 it was not until the soothing influence of dinner had 

 taken possession of my bosom, and a whisper had 

 run through the establishment that it was beginning 

 to freeze, that I thoroughly recovered my equanimity, 

 and was able to retire to rest with some small hope 

 that my bed next night would not be one of pain 

 and suffering. 



Alas for my anticipations ! I was awakened 

 from slumber by a knock at the door, and the man 

 entered my room with a can of hot water in one 

 hand and a pair of tops in the other ; while over 

 his arm were slung my — in point of fact, my 

 breeches ; a costume which I had never worn except 

 on the day it came home, when I spent the greater 

 portion of the evening sportingly arrayed astride of 

 a chair, to see how it all felt. 



" Breakfast at nine, sir. Hounds meet at Black- 

 brook at half-past ten ; and it's a good way to ride," 

 said the servant. 



" The frost's all gone, I fea I hope ? " I said, 



inquiringly. 



" Yes, sir. Lovely morning ! " he answered, 

 drawing up the blinds. 



In his opinion a lovely morning was characterised 

 by slightly damp, muggy weather ; in mine it would 

 have been a daybreak of ultra-Siberian intensity. 



