XIV. 



A GENTLEWOMAN. 



The discussion as to whether or not ladies ought to hunt 

 is answered by Crookton in an angry negative ; and 

 when the remembrance of Miss Kitty Trewson's latest 

 exploits is fresh the balance of opinion strongly sup- 

 ports the Captain's views. But, on some one asking 

 whether he would prevent Miss Earle from enjoying 

 her favourite spore, Crookton growls out that the excep- 

 tion proves the rule ; that, he admits, is quite a different 

 thing, for even he is not insensible to the charm of her 

 presence. 



During the season marked by Miss Kitty's first 

 achievements Florence Earle and her mother were 

 away — wintering in the south of France ; but the elder 

 lady's health revived, and the old Manor House on the 

 Hill, at the bottom of which is the Cross Roads, our 

 favourite meet, is happily again tenanted. 



The idea of Florence Earle hunting struck Miss Kitty 

 as extremely funny. " She does not look much like it," 

 the volatile young lady observed on hearing that Miss 

 Earle was expected. " I've seen her driving about to old 

 women's cottages in a basket-carriage with a blind pony. 



