PREPARATIONS FOR THE FOX-HUNT. 11 



" That you will see also by-and-by, Burnett, if the scent 

 holds." 



" Come, then, let us mount and away, for I see your son is 

 already in the saddle, and anxious to begin." 



CHAPTER II. 



The breakfast-room was cleared in a trice, and many polite 

 offers made by Fred Beauchamp, Yernon, and Markham, to lift 

 Miss Constance on her beautiful bay, which stood at the hall 

 door, with Bob Conyers carefully examining the girths and 

 bridle. 



" Thank you," she said, " for your kind attentions ; but my 

 friend Mr. Conyers would be highly offended were I to accept 

 any other hand than his, which was the first to place me on 

 horseback." 



" Well, Con," said Bob, as he adjusted her habit, after 

 vaulting her into the saddle, " you look like your father's own 

 child this morning, and I'll back your seat and management 

 on horseback against all the riding-school-taught misses in 

 England." 



" Ah, Mr. Conyers," she exclaimed, laughing ; " that is a 

 little vanity on your part, because you were my instructor." 



"Well, Miss Beauchamp," interposed Yernon, "Conyers 

 may be justly proud of such a highly-finished and graceful 

 pupil." 



" Thank you, Mr. Yernon, for your compliment ; but fine 

 speeches are thrown away upon a fox-hunter's daughter, which 

 I told you once before this morning ; " and lightly touching her 

 horse with the whip, he sprang instantly away, capering and 

 kicking, to the consternation of Markham and those near ; but 

 Constance never moved an inch from her seat, and bounded off, 

 with Bob at her side, laughing and patting her horse on the 

 neck, delighted with his gambols. 



" By gad, Yernon ! " exclaimed the Captain, " that's a 

 deuced fine horsewoman, sits like a jockey ; but her horse's 

 heels were devilish near finding out whether I had any brains 

 in my head." 



" Not many there, I'll answer for," replied Yernon, " and 

 none to spare ;" saying which, he galloped away to overtake 



