102 TaUyho. 



the Hon. Mrs. Sraitli, the Misses Fitzroy, Mrs. 

 Starkey, Miss Podmore^ and Miss Darby ;, who^ trained 

 to ride from her earliest days, is a performer of the 

 first-water; Miss Davey, Mrs. Thursby, Miss Caldi- 

 cott, and Miss Pennington. 



In no other hunt will there be found so many first- 

 rate sportswomen as are to be seen at every meeting 

 of the Pytchley ; and they are quite distinct from 

 many I have seen ; riding quietly and well, without 

 any attempt at display, or desire to obtain notoriety 

 by running unnecessary risks. 



As long as these conditions are observed, and pro- 

 vided each fair rider is endowed with plenty of nerve, 

 judgment, and presence of mind, all goes well. 



Presence of mind, by the way, is invaluable in 

 other ways than the hunting-field. For instance, 

 dining the other day with a Leicestershire squire with 

 strong political tendencies, the ladies having left, my 

 host, entrenched behind a bottle of 1820 port, for 

 which he knows I have an amiable weakness, thought 

 to entrap me into a discussion upon the Eastern Ques- 

 tion — a subject of which I am utterly weary, not 

 having the slightest sympathy with the Turk ; though 

 I think there may be something advantageous in his 

 domestic arrangements which may possibly lead to 

 an increase of domestic comfort — though, by-the-bye, 

 it must tend to greatly increase his milliners^ 

 bills. 



I listened attentively for awhile, filling the largest 

 glass I could find, and forgetting to pass the bottle. 

 " I am thoroughly in accord with you,^^ I said, " for 

 there is no doubt you have hit the right nail on 

 the head when you say it is not only ahle men that we 



