A YOUNG HUNTING LADY. 31 



the fence out of the covert when Kitty's voice sounds in 

 his ears : " Oh, Mr. Heathfield, I'm so sorry to trouble 

 you, but would you please fasten my girths a little 

 tighter for me ? It's so good of you, but my groom is 

 so stupid. Will that do ? Are you sure it's fast now ? 

 Oh, thank you so much ! " 



It doesn't take poor Heathfield long to get on his 

 horse and set him going ; but everybody else who rides 

 is well away over the next field, and it is not a benedic- 

 tion on Miss Kitty that the breeze wafts back as he 

 gallops on. Kitty finds her way over somehow, and 

 manages to reach a gate, which enables us to avoid an 

 ugly trap, before most of us, whereat there is a 

 lengthened pause until this clumsy Diana has quite 

 convinced herself that she cannot open it. On we go, 

 Kitty's screw, who has had one or two sharp bursts, 

 already losing ground, when Scatterly, who has been 

 rather thrown out by extra cleverness, comes up in a 

 desperate hurry, but draws rein, for the hounds are 

 hesitating a little and bending to the right. 



*'Oh, Mr. Scatterly," cries Kitty, "I'm so glad you 

 are here ! I'm sure we could jump that fence if you 

 would pick out that nasty stick for me. Do you mind ? 

 I do so want to try ! " 



Scatterly, as courteous as all shy men are who are not 

 used to ladies' society, dismounts, and is struggling to 

 pick out a stiff binder, when, with a loud cry, away go 

 the pack with one consent. By the time he has com- 

 pleted his task the hunt is a good half-mile away, for 



