THE LEAF ON THE THOIJN. 13> 



tlie Coi)low (or ratlier tlie covert of Botany Bay) after 

 two or three different foxes. The ride home was not a 

 very comfortable sequel ; but what mattered that after a 

 run so early and in itself so pretty ? Why does early 

 lamb tempt the epicure ? Why do fair ladies prefer 

 rather to anticipate a fashion than to incur the reproach 

 of being behind it ? Why is there charm in spring ; and 

 why is there tenfold power in a passion re-asserted ? 

 This is our spring and our re-awakening. And very very 

 glad were we now that we had scorned the promptings of 

 our craven heart — bidding us turn homeward at midday 

 when the weather was at its worst. 



Wednesday last, October 2-Jtth, brought the Bel voir to 

 Clawson Thorns — and brought also the lamentable news 

 that Gillard had broken his leg over-night. The casualty, 

 it seems, was due to the upsetting of the hound van, in 

 which it is customary to carry the pack to and from work 

 on the Lincolnshire side. One of the horses shied across 

 the road when descending a hill close at home ; and the 

 van tilted over against the bank at the side. The whole 

 staff, and Champion the Duke of Richmond's huntsman, 

 were shot into the road ; but Gillard, who sustained a 

 fracture of the small bone of a leg and a severe sprain of 

 an ankle, was the only one of the party hurt. The hounds 

 of course were rolled over in a mass ; but it is said that 

 not one of them was the worse for it. Very naturally, 

 the greatest sympathy is widely expressed for the hunts- 

 man, whose misfortune at such a time is also as serious a 

 matter to others as it is grievous to him. A bed of sick- 

 ness and pain in November must indeed be the lot of 



