136 MY FIRST DAY'S FOX-HUNTING 



this spectacle, that the fox, like me, was a hero ; 

 but, also like me, an unsuccessful one. What a 

 number of men, women, horses, and dogs to conquer 

 one little fox ! These and similar reflections were 

 soon cut short, for the dogs having finished their 

 lunch, the men and women began to think about 

 theirs ; in fact, Sir John Hausie had invited them 

 all, including me, to lunch with him at the Manor 

 House, about half a mile distant. As we journeyed 

 thither I began to feel very uncomfortable, for my 

 coat, waistcoat, and shirt, although not dirty (for 

 the water in the brook was clean), were wet through, 

 and, the warmth of exercise and enthusiasm having 

 subsided, I felt very cold. When we arrived at Sir 

 John's, I was so stiff with cold that I could scarcely 

 dismount, which Sir John observing, he came and 

 very kindly accosted me. He also inquired as to 

 the cause of my fall — spill, he called it — and 

 offered me the loan of a coat whilst mine was hastily 

 dried at the kitchen fire. Sir John was an exceed- 

 ingly pleasant man, and had a jolly, cheerful, laugh- 

 ing face, and we soon understood each other. I 

 accepted his proferred loan with many thanks, and 

 then took Miss Trafford in to lunch. As I sat by 

 her side in the baronet's coat, and gracefully helped 

 her to sherry, the frost of her manner gradually 

 thawed ; and when we returned to remount we were 



