402 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



what will Miss Honoria say to lier darling captain being 

 smashed in that fashion 1 " 



Both Hazel and Fred Beauchamp laughed so immoderately 

 as to be incapable of rendering any assistance, for the captain's 

 leg being crooked under him, his ankle was severely sprained, so 

 that he could with difficulty raise himself; but Conyers hastened 

 to assist him, inquiring where he was injured. 



" Eh ! aw ! Bob, queer about the ankle — pains fearfully ; 

 give me your arm, old fellow ; hobble away to a chair — deuced 

 awkward affair, floored by a woman ! 'pon honour." 



As the captain limped across the room in search of a seat, 

 Mrs. Winterbottoni, pitying his distressed looks, with anguish 

 pictured on his brow, rose from her most comfortable chair, and 

 insisted on his taking possession of it. 



"Oh, captain dear, this comes o' romping in them nasty 

 country dances ; and there's my Honoria been nearly torn to 

 bits by that young farmer-chap, whisking and whirling her 

 about till she's not fit to be seen, with her hair all about her 

 face, and her dress rumpled and crumpled as if it had been 

 taken out of a clothes bag ; but here she comes — my gracious I 

 such a figure, and so 'ot, poor tiling." And sure enough, Miss 

 Honoria' s dress and tresses were rather the worse for the rush- 

 ing and crushing she had been obliged to undergo when hauled 

 about by young Mr. Hardcastle, who was not one of the most 

 graceful in his movements, or very particular about an extra 

 hop or two, whether in or out of time. 



With the proverbial unselfishness of women, however, Miss 

 Honoria's first inquiring looks were directed to Markham, 

 whose fall she had witnessed. " I fear," she said, a you have 

 been very much injured by that awkward girl's falling ?" 



" Much better now, thank you," he replied, " pray take my 

 seat," attempting to rise, when another -sharp twinge made the 

 captain twist again. 



" Sit still, Captain Markham, I beg and entreat." 



" 'Pon honour, couldn't perpetrate such rudeness, as to sit 

 still whilst you are standing, Miss Honoria." 



" Then," she said, " I shall leave you directly, if you make 

 another effort to rise." 



At this moment the Earl (his dance being finished) came up 

 to inquire about his accident. " Well, Markham, I see how it 

 is, and rest is your only remedy — an easy chair here, or in the 

 drawing-room — which do you prefer 1 " 



" Oh, here, by all means," was the reply, " as I should like 

 to see the fun out." 



