A PREFACE AT HOME AND ABROAD. 3 



The morning draw was the plantation that is best 

 entitled to the name of The Gaddesby Spinney ; and 

 among those who rode away from it, or appeared soon 

 afterwards, were Mr. Coupland and ]\liss Webster, Mr. 

 Merthyr and Lady Theodora Guest, Mr. and Mrs. Pen- 

 nington, Mrs. Sloane Stanley, Capt. and Miss M. Camp- 

 bell, General Chippindall, Capt. Grrimstone, Messrs. 

 Cheney, A. Barclay, Beaumont, Middleton, Alston, 

 Thornhill, 0. Paget, J. Cradock, G. Webster, R. Martin, 

 with perhaps a dozen others — supplemented by a con- 

 siderable detachment of grooms, many of whom were 

 zealously employed for the benefit of the farmers in 

 schooling; horses that lonir airo cost their masters the 

 price at all events of perfection. 



The fox that took them hence to break the ice (a most 

 inapplicable parallel in such weather) with five hot 

 minutes to the villaore — and to die in its outskirts — was 

 old and fat as many a chosen stag of Exmoor. He 

 would have little of the open country — though that little 

 sufficed to put men and horses more at ease. A few 

 blind fences had been jumped ; hounds had been seen to 

 run ; and never a casualty had yet befallen. 



All that happened in tlie afternoon might in midwinter 

 be served up in a couple of lines — though it seemed a 

 full afternoon of merriment and pleasant sport to-day. 

 A second fox was set going from another of Mr. 

 Cheney's Spinnies (the one on the hillside opposite 

 Gaddesby Tillage) ; and a roundabout, but very enjoy- 

 able hunt, went on for a long time before this second old 

 fox was brought to hand. At first starting men rode and 



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