ondered they did not
sell; but happily people at a distance were kinder, and native genius
was discovered in a youth, who soon made beautiful designs. But I do
not think the revived activity of the unpopular pottery did us at that
time any good with our neighbours.

Harold and Eustace sent in their subscriptions to the hunt and were not
refused, but there were rumours that some of the Stympsons had
threatened to withdraw.

I had half a mind to ride with them to the meet, but I could not tell
who would cut me, and I knew the mortification would be so keen to them
that I could not tell how they would behave, and I was afraid Eustace's
pride in his scarlet coat might be as manifest to others as to us, and
make me blush for him. So I kept Dora and myself at home.

I found that by the management of Dermot Tracy and his friends, the
slight had been less apparent than had been intended, when all the
other gentlemen had been asked in to Mr. Stympson's to breakfast, and
they had been left out with the farmers; Dermot had so resented this
that he had declined going into the house, and ridden to the village
inn with them.

To my surprise, Eustace chose to go on hunting, because it asserted his
rights and showed he did not care; and, besides, the hard riding was
almost a necessity to both the young men, and the Foling hounds, beyond
Biston, were less exclusive, and they were welcomed there. I believe
their horsemanship extorted admiration from the whole field, and that
they were gathering acquaintance, though not among those who were most
desirable. The hunting that was esteemed hard exercise here was
nothing to them. They felt cramped and confined even when they had had
the longest runs, and disdained the inclosures they were forced to
respect. I really don't know what Harold would have done but for
Kalydon Moor, where he had a range without inclosures of some twelve
miles. I think he rushed up there almost every day, and thus kept
himself in health, and able to endure the confinement of our civilised
life.

A very hard winter set in unusually early, and with a great deal of
snow in December. It was a great novelty to our Australians, and was
not much relished by Eustace, who did not enjoy the snow-balling and
snow fortification in which Harold and Dora revelled in front of the
house all the forenoon. After luncheon, when the snowstorm had come on
too thickly for Dora to go out again, Harold insisted on going to see