end. Let the pace have been what it may, he is up in time to see
the crowd of hounds hustling for their prey, and to take part in
the buzz of satisfaction which the prosperity of the run has
occasioned. But the farmer never kills his horse, and seldom
rides him even to distress. He is not to be seen loosing his
girths, or looking at the beast's flanks, or examining his legs
to ascertain what mischances may have occurred. He takes it all
easily, as men always take matters of business in which they are
quite at home. At the end of the run he sits mounted as quietly
as he did at the meet, and has none of that appearance of having
done something wonderful, which on such occasions is so very
strong in the faces of the younger portion of the pink brigade.
To the farmer his day's hunting is very pleasant, and by habit is
even very necessary; but it comes in its turn like market-day,
and produces no extraordinary excitement. He does not rejoice
over an hour and ten minutes with a kill in the open, as he
rejoices when he has returned to Parliament the candidate who is
pledged to repeal of the malt-tax; for the farmer of whom we are
speaking now, though he rides with constancy, does not ride with
enthusiasm.

O fortunati sua si bona norint farmers of England! Who in the
town is the farmer's equal? What is the position which his
brother, his uncle, his cousin holds? He is a shopkeeper, who
never has a holiday, and does not know what to do with it when it
comes to him; to whom the fresh air of heaven is a stranger;
who lives among sugars and oils, and the dust of shoddy, and the
size of new clothing. Should such an one take to hunting once a
week, even after years of toil, men would point their fingers at
him and whisper among themselves that he was as good as ruined.