A STRAIGHT RIDER. 43 



plunge is the consequence. But you need not be 

 anxious for the youth's safety ; he seems to be sitting 

 carelessly enough, but his seat is a good deal tighter 

 than it looks, and a tug at the bridle, accompanied by a 

 touch of the spur, convinces the big bay that he will do 

 well to behave himself. 



"I know his face," Lady Hortington continues, as 

 she gazes at this performance. 



"Very likely; you've met him in town, no doubt. 

 It's young Wynnerly, of the — Guards," Sir Henry 

 answers, making his adieux, and giving a signal to 

 his huntsman, which is sjoeedily communicated to the 

 pack, and responded to by an eager dash into the 

 covert. 



The youth is indeed that gallant warrior, Captain 

 Wynnerly, whose fame as a gentleman-rider is Euro- 

 pean, and who, though one of the best fellows in the 

 world, is by no manner of means the artless creature 

 you would take him for if you were inclined to dis- 

 regard the proverb which points out the folly of judging 

 from appearances. 



And that this folly is sometimes very expensive 

 young Downing found to his cost on the occasion of 

 Wynnerly's dchiit as a steeplechase rider in our 

 countr}^ 



Sir Henry Akerton had picked up in Ireland, for a 

 small sum, an enormous chestnut horse which no one 

 could manage to do anything with — except fall off, an 

 operation that was performed with remarkable punctu- 



