76 Tally ho. 



his extortionate charges. Then I listen to the lark^s 

 loud carol, see the yellowhammers twittering on the 

 hedges, the wood-pigeons hastening to their home, as 

 I go towards the village of Thornhaugli, calling at the 

 pretty farmhouse, gay with beds of golden crocuses 

 and silvery snowdrops, the abode of ^^ Frank Gordon/' 

 so well known to all frequenters of the Shires ; and as 

 I view these scenes so charming, I sa}^, assuredly " If 

 there^s peace in this world to be found, a heart that is 

 humble may hope for it here," especially if the owner 

 of that humble heart should happen to be the incum- 

 bent of the parish, whose lines are evidently drawn in 

 very pleasant places, judging by the appearance of 

 the rectory and its surroundings. Throughout the 

 Shires the grand old grey stone churches, standing 

 out boldly in the landscape, are noticeable features. 

 On Wednesday the " Fitzwilliam ''' met at their crack 

 fixture, Bythorn Tolbar, and a large contingent 

 arrived ffom Cambridge, Leicester, and other places. 

 The Duchess of Manchester rides over from Kimbolton 

 Castle to join in the sport, and amongst a large field 

 assembled at this favourite meet are Lord Esme 

 Gordon, Count Lemberg, who has come from Vienna 

 to enjoy a few weeks in the Shires, staying, according 

 to custom, at the Haycock, which is his usual place of 

 abode, chosen as well by Count Metternich and other 

 Austrian nobles who arrive every season to hunt in 

 this locality; Frank Gordon; Charlie l^ercival, "a 

 chip of the old block ; ■'^ Cannon and Jewett, the well- 

 known jockeys, and a host of regular attendants on 

 this pack of hounds. George Carter then proceeds to 

 draw the adjoining cover, and a fox is soon found in 

 '^ Hunts Closes," going away at a good bat^ passing 



