A Week at Melton. 51 



horse of her ladyship being a perfect picture^ worthy 

 of its rider^ who goes well to hounds. 



From thence I go to the stables occupied by the 

 Messrs. Behrens^ where I find 41 horses in all. As 

 each is stripped I am told his pedigree and perform- 

 ances; several have been bred by the owners^ the 

 blood of King, Tom and Brocket, being conspicuous. 

 It has never been my good fortune before to see so 

 large and useful a stud in such perfect order and con- 

 dition, reflecting the highest credit on the "Master 

 of the Horse •'^ who has charge of them, and who 

 kindly showed me over the establishment. It is evi- 

 dent that neither expense nor trouble is spared, even 

 to the minutest detail, to approach as near perfection 

 as possible. 



On Friday the Quorn met at Great Dalby, three 

 miles from Melton. ''Post nubila surgit Phoebus,^* 

 who puts in an appearance for the first and only time 

 during my visit. As I trot over the bridge and mount 

 the hill on the way to the meet, the thrushes are sing- 

 ing and the morning is like an April day. The horses 

 of the sun were evidently out of condition, and the 

 day which had commenced so brightly ended in a 

 snowstorm. Such are the conditions under which 

 I pay my second visit to the Quorn, and a better 

 opportunity is aff'orded to judge of the merits of " Tom 

 Firr ^^ and his racing-looking pack ; and I learn with 

 great satisfaction that the first cover to be drawn is 

 Gartree Hill, which is sure to hold a fox, and one of 

 the very best covers in the country to see a start — 

 promises that are amply fulfilled when the time comes 

 to test them. 



Arriving at the village of Great Dalby, the first to 



4—2 



