In the Shires. 95 



the noble sport of fox-hunting free of all cost and 

 trouble to themselves. 



The following being a leisure day, I take an oppor- 

 tunity of looking over some of the studs, and I 

 examine in Mr. Little Gilmour^s stables three of the 

 most perfect horses, looking at them with a critical 

 eye, that I have ever seen — the grey which is so well 

 known, and two bays that are almost equally good. 

 Next I see Lord Wilton^s string, and a grand lot of 

 hunters they are ; fit to carry a man across any 

 country in the world, at the tail of the fleetest hounds 

 that can be found. Then I fall in again with the 

 " oldest inhabitant,^^ who tells me yet one more tale of 

 the Marquis of Waterford. Thinking he should like 

 to try a fresh team, his lordship desired the harness to 

 be put on four racehorses which he had in training for 

 the meeting at Croxton Park, neither of which had 

 ever looked through a collar before. 



" But, my lord — '^ said the stud-groom, who was 

 instantly bid to do as he was told. 



" The horses are mine, ain't they ? '^ said my lord ; 

 '^ put them to at once, and look sharp about it ! '^ 



When they are ready for a start he says, "Now, 

 then, what are you staring at ? — ^jump up ! '^ and the 

 two grooms ruefully do his bidding, mounting the drag 

 in a state of mind that evidences considerable doubts 

 as to their fate. Then, looking carefully over his 

 team, as every good coachman should, and finding the 

 harness all right, he gathers up the reins, and mounts 

 the box. 



" Let them go,'' says the Marquis, and they are ofi" 

 with a bound ; but as soon as they feel the collar they 

 come to a stand, the wheelers shaking their heads and 



