THE FAIR ROBSE.BBEAKEE. 23 



not really a cottage at all, but a good sized house, standing 

 in its own grounds, with a small park (field, according to the 

 Misses Styles) attached, and which was situated a few miles 

 outside Hazleford. A week or two later the sisters were 

 jogging to the meet when a smart mail-phaeton dashed past 

 them, two gentlemen in fur-lined overcoats politely raising 

 their tall hats as they recognised the ladies. " By Jove ! 

 Frank," exclaimed he who was driving to his companion, 

 " those Styles girls don't get any younger." 



" By the way, I thought you were a bit mashed on the 

 younger, Charlie," said the other. 



" I ? good heavens, no ! " laughed Charlie Maunsell. " I 

 cultivated the acquaintance of the divine Enid because I 

 found it very refreshing to learn the scandal of the country 

 side, and the frailties of my feminine acquaintances from 

 those sweet lips. When I meet a girl, and I think she is 

 a nice girl, but want to be sure, I simply go to one of the 

 Misses Styles for their opinion," he went on. " If they cut 

 her up unmercifully, I may rest assured that she is a good, 

 lady-like girl." 



A few minutes later the young ladies under discussion 

 arrived at the meet, and Avere soon busy chatting to those of 

 their male acquaintances that they could buttonhole. Just 

 as the hounds moved oft' to draw, a quiet, plain-looking old 

 gentleman in scarlet put in an appearance, nodded "Good 

 morning " to those about him, but seemed quite satisfied to 

 be left alone. Then up bustled Mr. Toynbee, the secretary, 

 who always made a point of fussing up to the big subscribers. 



" You must do the soft soap business, Tony," said Mr. 

 Buller, the Master. " It's a thing I can't and won't do ; and 

 besides I've plenty to do with the hounds and keeping the fields 

 off their backs. Many of them think that because they have 

 a share in them they can ride over them whenever they like. 

 Now Styles is the man for me. If all the field were like him, 



