2 20 SKETCHES IN THE HUNTING FIELD. 



gave Little Lady her head, and she cantered up to it, 

 lighting on the other side like a very bird ! Bertie 

 didn't s|3eak as I trotted ujd to him, but he looked up 

 into my face with a triumphant smile more eloquent 

 than words. 



"You've given her enough, haven't you?" he re- 

 marked, patting her neck, as I dismounted in the yard. 



" You've given her enough " usually signifies " you've 

 given her too much." But I thoug^ht not, and we 

 walked round to the house tolerably well convinced that 

 the approaching banking transactions would be on the 

 right side of the book. 



Despite a walk with Nellie, and the arrival of a pile 

 of music from town, the afternoon passed rather slowly ; 

 perhaps we were too anxious to be cheerful. To make 

 matters worse, dinner was to be postponed till nine 

 o'clock, for the aunt was coming, and Nellie was afraid 

 the visitor would be offended if they did not wait for her. 



" You look very bored and tired, sir !' " said Nellie, 

 pouting prettily ; " I believe you'd yawn if it wasn't 

 rude ! " 



I assured her that I could not, under any circum- 

 stances, be guilty of such an enormity. 



" It's just a quarter past seven. We'll go and meet 

 the carriage, and then perhaps you'll be able to keep 

 awake until dinner-time ! " and so with a look of dignity 

 which would have been very effective if the merry smile 

 in her eyes had been less apparent after, the little lady 

 swept out of the room ; to return shortly arrayed in furs, 



