200 Tally ho. 



men clad in full hunting costume, wlio, after seeing 

 him have a good start, will attend a special meet of 

 the Belvoir Hounds, assembled on the lawn in front 

 of the home of the bride, as a compliment to her 

 boldness and dexterity in the field. 



And as I write these words I feel assured of the truth 

 of the old proverb, '^ That there are as good fish in the 

 sea as ever came out of it ; ^^ for, drawn up in front 

 of ray window, I see a dogcart, thoroughly well 

 equipped, to which is harnessed a first-class brown 

 horse, with the nattiest of grooms, in which is seated 

 a lady who would induce any man with a grain of 

 spirit to follow her, however difficult the country 

 might be, or great the opposition, or obstacles he 

 might have to encounter. 



But my hack is announced, and I am informed that 

 I have no time to spare if I intend to reach Stonesby, 

 about six miles distant, in time to see the hounds, 

 and to watch the arrival of the field, which, I 

 hear, is likely to be in full force, this being a 

 favourite fixture of his Grace the Duke of Rut- 

 land^ s hounds. 



A pleasant canter through Thorpe Arnold and the 

 old-fashioned village of Waltham brings me to 

 Stonesby, and there I see Frank Gillard and his 

 hounds, assembled in a meadow, awaiting us. On a 

 former occasion I have written my opinion of the qua- 

 lities of the different packs of hounds that hunt the 

 country round Melton, and I now, on again riding with 

 them, express the same opinion, though in diff"erent 

 words ; for I say the Belvoir for beauty, the Cottesmore 

 for quality and condition, and the Quorn for speed. If 

 I name the list of noble sportsmen and ladies assem- 



