CHAPTEE XIII. 



THE XEW YEAR IX. 



(^%(^ TRULY grand clay's sport was tliat of Monday, 

 cj(£fc-*\ January 7tli, with the Quorn. In the morn- 

 eMj^^S^ ing they ran a six-mile-and-a-half point in 

 forty-three minutes. In the afternoon they ran for an 

 hour without any absokite check, only abandoning pur- 

 suit when, half an hour later, darkness found every horse 

 completely tired. Both runs carried them far over the 

 border into the Duke's territory ; and both took them at 

 a great pace over much beautiful ground. So rapid, 

 stirring and profuse were the events of the day, that pen 

 and head fairly stagger at the task of setting them even 

 in skeleton shape before the public. In fiincy I may still 

 see the shifting stage, and its many actors flitting before 

 me. But much of course I was not in a position to see, 

 and much I failed to grasp in that turmoil of happy 

 action. Besides (freely as by friendly indulgence I am 

 allowed to presume), I have no licence to deal with men 

 and their doings merely as if they were there to serve the 

 purpose of the public and the printer's devil. I may, 

 however, state a number of those who comprised the 

 company ; and in sketching the sport shall crave the use 



