HOSPITALITY 105 



The engaging manners, as well as sweet expression of 

 countenance, of my second sister — then just growing into 

 womanhood — had attracted the attention of a young man, 

 who had come to settle in our parish ; he was the son of 

 a wealthy yeoman in another part of the county. After 

 some little time he was accepted, and, upon the first 

 interview of the parents — which, according to the rules of 

 society, took place at the home of the betrothed — I was 

 sent for from Portsmouth to meet them. I received the 

 notification, at the same time, that the merits of a haunch 

 of venison from the neighbouring park of Stanstead were 

 to be discussed, as well as the matrimonal arrangements, 

 and resolved not to be absent. 



From some cause — I do not recollect what — I did not 

 ride my own horse that day ; and, not being then very 

 particular what I did ride, I accepted the offer of a nice- 

 looking, well-bred, little bay mare, that appeared to me to 

 have all the qualifications of a perfect hackney. I did 

 not know her, and my friend, to whom she belonged, 

 did not make me acquainted with any of her misgivings. 

 He had not had her many days, nor had he backed 

 her many times ; but I must think that he suspected 

 a very peculiar propensity she possessed ; and knowing 

 that I was not in the habit of riding very slow, he 

 showed no compunction nor fear of any consequence in 

 lending her to me. 



Accordingly I mounted, one hot summer's day ; and, 

 as I generally took about an hour — never more — to 

 accomj)lish the ten miles — often did it in less — I did not 

 leave till about two o'clock. I had not cleared the gates, 

 and proceeded far on the road, before I found it was 



