AN UNFEELING WRETCH. 289 



to his bedroom, although the course to it is up the 

 most intricate staircase that human ingenuity ever con- 

 structed. When all goes right with us in this world, 

 we are courteous, considerate, and easily satisfied ; 

 when the opposite is the case, we are the reverse. 



I found the gallant and willing little mare where 

 I had left her ; the saddle was soon girthed tightly 

 on her back, and her patience while the operation 

 was being performed was most exemplary. Still I 

 was fractious and dissatisfied with her conduct, so 

 spoke to her roughly and unkindly. When my feet 

 were in the stirrup-irons, with her usual will and 

 energy to please, she lay down to her long, easy 

 gallop, destined soon to take me to the wagons. 

 Inadvertently and unfortunately the good little darling 

 stumbled, when I, in a spirit of revenge for such an 

 unavoidable contretemps, cruelly chucked her delicate 

 mouth about, and would you believe it ? drove the 

 cruel Latchfords into her silky flanks. 



Disappointment in not having killed the object 

 of my hunt could scarcely have made me such a 

 brute. No ! I much fear it was not having the 

 trophies to lay at my bonnie lassie's feet that did it. 

 Oh, woman, woman ! you have much to answer for. 



u 



