82 THE BEST SEASOX OX EECOKD. 



to complete — tlie earlier half being voted excellent, for it 

 embraced the strong pastures of Great Dalby, and in- 

 cluded the best part of the Burrough steeplechase course, 

 at a capital pace. It is a matter of conjecture where we 

 may have changed foxes ; but there is room for belief 

 that, for a second time this autumn, hounds never 

 recovered the true line after touching the garden of 

 Burrough Hill House. In the afternoon a fox from 

 Thorpe Trussels, headed in the village, all but died a 

 craven death in the poultry-pen of Thorpe Satchville 

 Hall. But, escaping from this, he repeated to a letter 

 the evening burst of last Kirby Gate day — then, reaching 

 Burrough Hill, bore to the left by Great Dalby, and w\as 

 prettily run and hunted almost to his death, at his own 

 door. " Gentlemen ! gentlemen ! Cant you stand still 

 while hounds hunt up to you ? " 



Not altogether devoid of comedy, by the way, was a 

 little scene encountered just previously. The two 

 hundred were hurrying, breathless and excited — some to 

 keep with hounds, others to catch them, and others still 

 to catch others — and, so doing, they closely enveloped 

 and overspread a fallow field, in the innnediate vicinity 

 of the Hon. JMr. Sandford's hunting-box. To-morrow 

 was to be Piper Hole with the Belvoir ; and if there is 

 one man among us who studies and insists upon 

 condition^ it is ]\Ir. S., for whom, moreover — in virtue of 

 various pleasant memories — an evening run with the 

 Belvoir ever possesses an especial charm. So Alderman, 

 by Forager, dam by Repletion, being a bit heavier than 

 he ought, must without fail do a light gallop in heavy 



