ROUGH SHOOTING 287 



" By all means, my dear, let her go. My sister 

 is there for the season, and will only be too de- 

 lighted to have her ; but as for my leaving the 

 place at present, with all I have to do, it is an 

 utter impossibility." This was a settler. 



Somehow or other I begin to feel more lively as 

 spring comes on. As a rule, about the middle of 

 May I require a little spring medicine and a change 

 of air. I find that the breezes of Epsom Downs 

 agree famously with me, although my better-half 

 always declares I " look vilely " on my return. 

 Absurd nonsense ! But I love my own quiet 

 country life ; its wild unfettered freedom. Away 

 from the smoke, dust, and tumult of over-crowded 

 cities — away from late hours and the unwholesome 

 glare of gas, and I am happy. 



A trip to Ascot and Goodwood with my family 

 keeps matters all straight. A break now and then, 

 and the quiet monotony of country life is not 

 felt. 



June, bright, beautiful, glorious June, has pecu- 

 liar attractions for me. I am a shooter. I have 

 not a grouse moor, for the simple reason that I 

 cannot afford one ; as my old keeper says, " It is 

 master's terrible long family and expenses that pre- 

 vents his going into shooting as he would like." 



I am obliged to content myself with a partridge 



