2i8 SKETCHES JN THE HUNTEXG FIELD. 



just manage that nicely. I know you'll come if you 

 can, and if you telegraph I'll meet you. 



" Yours ever, 



"Bertie Peyton. 



" P.S. — Nellie sends love, and hopes to see you. No 

 one is here, but the aunt is coming shortly." 



I was naturally anxious to oblige him, and luckily 

 had nothing to keep me in town ; so the afternoon saw 

 me rapidly speeding southwards, and the evening 

 comfortably domiciled at The Lodge. 



Bertie, who resided there with his sister, was not a 

 rich man. ;^5oo was a good deal more than he could 

 afford to lose, and poor little Nellie was in a great 

 flutter of anxiety and excitement in consequence of her 

 brother's rashness. As for the mare, she could gallop 

 and jump ; and though we had no means of ascertaining 

 the abilities of Blankney's chestnut, we had sufficient 

 faith in our Little Lady to enable us to come "up to the 

 scratch smiling ; " and great hopes that we should be 

 enabled to laugh at the result in strict accordance with 

 the permission given in the old adage, " Let those laugh 

 who win." 



It was not very pleasant to rise at an abnormal hour 

 every morning, and, arrayed in great-coats and com- 

 forters sufficient for six people, to rush rapidly about the 

 country ; but it was necessary. I was a little too heavy, 

 and we could not afford to throw away any weight, nor 

 did I wish to have my saddle reduced to the size of a 



