*36 HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS. 



ordinary garments. She wore a lovely hat and 

 long white feather. My friend (to my great 

 regret) was advised by her husband to return 

 home before they found. 



A fox was soon on foot, and away they went, 

 and as we saw the last rider disappear, my friend 

 was seized with a sudden impulse to follow. 

 She called out to me : " Come on Augusta," and 

 off she went, the groom and I following. We 

 soon came to a small bank ; on the far side of 

 which was a very heavy ploughed field: over 

 this obstacle she flew. I saw the figure toppling 

 and toppling, and at last, quite unable to re- 

 cover herself, off she came, was flung over her 

 horse's head, and landed in the ploughed field 

 some yards away — and there we found her 

 seated. She was quite unhurt, but terribly 

 crestfallen. I was choking with laughter at the 

 spectacle she presented : the lovely hat and long 

 white feather had flown away, the beautiful hair 

 hanging down her back. The skirt, which had 

 got much out of place, displayed fine frilled 

 petticoats ; her small feet in shoes — with sandals 

 — and the white open-worked stockings plas- 

 tered with mud ! 



I held her horse while she got on, and rode 

 back to Bath, not feeling in the best of spirits 

 at my disappointment, and the sorry sight we 

 presented as we rode through the most fashion- 

 able streets of Bath — just as the beau monde 

 was taking a morning airing. 



After this unfortunate beginning, I had 

 many pleasant days with the Duke of Beaufort's 

 hounds. 



