s own and peculiar duties. It is
the busiest month in the year in regard to horses. Is physic needed?
In the Squire's stables physic was much eschewed, and the Squire's
horses were usually in good condition. But it is needful to know,
down to a single line on the form, whether this or that animal wants
more exercise,--and if so, of what nature. We hold that for hunters
which are worked regularly throughout the season, and which live in
loose boxes summer and winter, but little exercise is required except
in the months of September and October. Let them have been fed on
oats throughout the year, and a good groom will bring them into form
in two months. Such at least was the order at the Newton stables;
and during this autumn,--especially during these last days of
October,--this order was obeyed with infinite alacrity, and with many
preparations for coming joys. And there are other cares, less onerous
indeed, but still needful. What good sportsman is too proud, or even
too much engaged, to inspect his horse's gear,--and his own? Only
let his horses' gear stand first in his mind! Let him be sure that
the fit of a saddle is of more moment than the fit of a pair of
breeches;--that in riding the length, strength, and nature of the bit
will avail more,--should at least avail more,--than the depth, form,
and general arrangement of the flask; that the question of boots,
great as it certainly is, should be postponed to the question of
shoes; that a man's seat should be guarded by his girths rather than
by his spurs; that no run has ever been secured by the brilliancy of
the cravat, though many a run has been lost by the insufficiency of a
stirrup-leather. In the stables and saddle-room, and throughout the
whole establishment of the house at Newton, all these matters were
ever sedulously regarded; but they had never been regarded with more
joyful zeal than was given to them during this happy month. There was
not a stable-boy about the place who did not know and feel that their
Mr. Ralph was now to take his place in the hunting-field as the heir
to Newton Priory.

And there were other duties at Newton of which the crowd of
riding-men know little or nothing. Were there foxes in the coverts?
The Squire had all his life been a staunch preserver, thinking more
of a vixen with her young cubs than he would of any lady in the land
with her first-born son. During the last spring and summer, however,
things had made him uncomfortable; and