142 RIDING FOR LADIES. 



hunting through bush and briar, it has been said to me, 

 " Surely the pleasure, such as it is, cannot repay you for 

 the toil." Utter nonsense, of course ! Is any trouble, or 

 any loss, for an instant remembered in the joyous burst of 

 music with which hounds rattle their fox out of covert, or 

 the delight of feeling a hitherto intractable youngster 

 bending at length submissively to one's will ? 



Often and often now, when sitting alone in my quiet 

 study, or watching the active pleasures from which I am 

 wholly debarred, I feel how truly I have " had my day " — 

 a most happy one — and how willingly I would go through 

 the same sufferings, if consequent upon the same joys. 

 Tempora miitantur. Even so, let it pass. 



Shying cannot properly be called a vice, though many 

 consider it one. I think it generally proceeds from defective 

 vision, and where this is the case the animal may be led 

 quietly up to the object of his aversion, and shown that it 

 is nothing very dreadful after all. Shying at a bicycle or 

 road-engine is so extremely natural that the rider — so far 

 from showing any anger against his mount — ought to 

 soothe and quiet him by every means in his power. A 

 young, fresh horse will shy at a bird, a piece of paper — 

 anything — but a clever equestrian should never be dis- 

 composed by such trifles. A steady seat ought to be 

 sufficient security against all possible disaster. 



Stumbling is a very unpleasant weakness, though not a 

 vice. Being too heavily shod is often a cause of it, and 

 this of course can be remedied ; but there is little chance of 

 effecting any good when the fault proceeds from defective 



