276 H.I.M. The Empress of Austria. 



impossible to do so, although people might ride to 

 points and not be far behind. That style, how- 

 ever, did not commend itself to the Empress and 

 the ex-Queen, to whom the pace and the jumping 

 gave the greatest satisfaction. 



Whilst we were running for our fox my attention 

 was engrossed in looking forward, and I merely 

 turned my head quickly from time to time for a 

 glance at Her Majesty's skirt upon the right side 

 of a fence. But, coming to a momentary check, 

 to my surprise the Empress rode up to me. 

 Greatly concerned, I enquired where the Queen 

 (whom I had been piloting as usual) was. Her 

 Majesty answered : "I have been riding after you 

 for some time ; my sister is with the huntsman." 

 In point of fact Frank Beers and I had 

 exchanged the Empress for the Queen. After 

 killing our fox, the meet being so late (two 

 o'clock), we gave up and rode home. The 

 Empress and Queen together, with myself in 

 attendance. 



I was asked to look over the stud of ten horses 

 which had been brought from Vienna for the use 

 of the Empress, and I was requested to state 

 my opinion of them to Her Majesty. The first 

 horse she mentioned happened to be the best ;: 

 but the two next I was unable to pass, and about 



