life, the contrary is the case; a widower with
grown-up daughters gives entertainments for them, and the eldest
daughter does the honours, thus reducing the position again to that of
host and hostess.

CHAPTER XXXVI

HUNTING AND SHOOTING

=Ladies in the Hunting-Field.=--There is no arena better fitted to
display good riding on the part of women than the hunting-field, and no
better opportunity for the practice of this delightful accomplishment
and for its thorough enjoyment. It is urged, however, that it argues
cruelty of disposition and unwomanly feeling to join in the pursuit of a
poor, miserable, hunted fox, and worse still to be in at the death, and
that women are liable to be carried away by the enthusiasm of the hour
to applaud and to witness what they would otherwise shrink from. This
argument has a certain weight, and deters many from actually hunting who
would otherwise join in the sport, and they make a compromise by
regularly attending the meets, and even witnessing a throw-off of a
fox-break covert. Every strong point that a rider possesses is brought
out in the field. The canter in the Row, the trot through the
country-lanes, or the long country ride are very feeble substitutes for
the intense enjoyment experienced when taking part in a good run; the
excitement felt and shared in by the whole field exhilarates and
stimulates, and renders fatigue a thing out of the question, not to be
thought of until the homeward ride is well over.

Considering the number of ladies who hunt, the accidents that occur are
surprisingly few, for the obvious reason that ladies do not attempt to
hunt unless their skill as good horsewomen is beyond all question. Their
husbands, their fathers, their brothers would not allow them to
jeopardise their lives, unless their riding and experience, their
courage, their nerve, and their instruction justified the attempt.

There are also two other weighty considerations necessary to success--a
good mount, and a good lead. The father or husband invariably selects
the one, and the friend--either of the fair rider or of the husband or
brother--gives the all-important lead, without which few ladies venture
upon hunting, save those few who are independent enough to cut out
their own work.

Ladies, who are naturally fond of riding, cannot always indulge in the
pleasure of hunting, on the ground of expense, for instance. A lady may
possess a fairly good horse for ordinary purposes, t