50 FACT AGAINST FICTION. 



same time, however, there was a hill perfectly 

 well fitted to take the rmming out of a racehorse, 

 and of this Lady N. was as well aw^are as I was. 

 Of com^se, I did not attempt to race at her horse's 

 head to seize the rein, for my horse was slower 

 than hers, and the clatter of my horse's feet would 

 liave been but as fuel to the fire; all I did was 

 to follow, and admire her riding, and her coolness 

 mider difficulties. With her usual grace, she kept 

 her saddle, and, with her usual tact, she took an 

 occasional jmll at the rein, guiding her steed, and 

 steadily reminding him, too, that though for the 

 moment he seemed to have it all his own way, 

 there was yet a hand over him that, if mastered 

 for a while, still kept an unshaken power, gradually 

 increasing, as his wdld wish for headlong speed 

 declined. His speed did decline on the ascent of 

 an o2:)posing hill, the gallop became a trot, his 

 graceful mistress on his back scarce reined him 

 in, but, wheeling round, cantered back to the 

 scene of the coursing, a perfect mistress of the 

 animal she rode. 



This was not the only trial which this j^erfection 

 of female equestrianism had. She was, at ia later 

 date, run away with by her horse in an enclosed 



