I never did win yet. I don't care very much about
it, but I don't know why I should always be so uncommonly unlucky.
We had such a day yesterday,--an hour and ten minutes all in the
open, and then a kill just as the poor fellow was trying to make a
drain under the high road. There were only five of us up. Surbiton
broke his horse's back at a bank, and young De Canute came down on
to a road and smashed his collar bone. Three or four of the hounds
were so done that they couldn't be got home. I was riding Black
Harry and he won't be out again for a fortnight. It was the best
thing I've seen these two years. We never have it quite like that
with the U.R.U.
If I don't go to Mistletoe I'll send Jack and a groom if you think
the Duke would take them in and let you ride the horse. If so I
shall stay here pretty nearly all January, unless there should be a
frost. In that case I should go back to Rufford as I have a deal of
shooting to do. I shall be so sorry not to see you;--but there is
always a sort of sin in not sticking to hunting when it's good. It
so seldom is just what it ought to be.
I rather think that after all we shall be down on that fellow who
poisoned our fox, in spite of your friend the Senator.
Yours always faithfully,
R.
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