1 84 SKETCHES IN THE HUNTING FIELD. 



said he, with enthusiasm, " and I shall be more than 

 pleased to see you there. I think, too, we shall be able 

 to show you some of your favourite sport this season. 

 We meet four days a week, and you may reckon on at 

 least one day with the Grassmere. It is always a sincere 

 pleasure to me to find a young fellow whose heart is 

 in it." 



As regards my heart, it was in my boots at the pros- 

 pect ; and, despite the great temptation of Laura's 

 presence, I paused, carefully to consider the pros and 

 C071S before accepting. 



How pleasant to see her fresh face every morning at 

 the breakfast-table ! How unpleasant to see a horse, 

 most likely painfully fresh also, waiting to bear me on 

 a fearsome journey as soon as the meal was concluded ! 

 How delightful to feel the soft pressure of her fingers as 

 she gave me morning greeting ! How awful to feel my 

 own fingers numbed and stiff with tugging at the bridle 

 of a wild, tearing, unmanageable steed ! How enjoyable 



to 



" Are you engaged for Christmas, ]\Ir. Smoothley ? " 

 Laura inquired, and that query settled me. It might 

 freeze ; I could sprain my ankle, or knock up an excuse 

 of some sort. Yes, I would go ; and might good luck go 

 with me. 



For the next few days I unceasingly studied the works 

 of Major Whyte-Melville, and others who have most to 

 say on what they term sport, and endeavoured to get up 

 a little enthusiasm. I did get up a little — very little ; 



