122 MY FIRST DAY'S FOX-HUNTING 



I thought that something of that kind might apply 

 to horsemen also, and that I myself might shine 

 more in the field than I did on the road. It was 

 the end of February, and the Coverbury pack were 

 meeting three times a week at places within easy 

 reach of the Stonington Station. That was jolly ! 

 I could buy a hunter, keep him at Philley's livery- 

 stables, and on hunting-days send him by train to 

 Stonington, meet him, have a day's hunting un- 

 known to my cousins, and thus enjoy myself with 

 perfect freedom. I at once drew a cheque for £50, 

 with which I determined to buy the best hunter in 

 all Blankshire ! I called at Philley's and told him 

 of my intention, and asked him how much a week 

 he would require to " board and lodge " my steed 

 when purchased. The man smiled — he seemed to 

 have a habit of smiling ; but seeing from the 

 seriousness of my manner that I was in earnest, 

 he replied that his charge for keeping the horse 

 would be thirty shillings a week ; and he added 

 that if I wished to buy a "slapping" hunter he'd 

 got just the horse for my money. " Of course,' 

 said he, " you don't want a pony, but a good tall 

 horse as'll keep you out of the dirt; and," he 

 added, scanning my figure from top to toe, " you 

 don't want no cart-horse to carry your weight 

 neither." I admitted that my ideas on the sub- 



