AND — BUOKEN B^NES. 157 



defeat in their second trial of courtesy and temper in 

 the ball-room. 



He had begun, therefore, to say very disagreeable 

 and rude things about the Virginian funking and back- 

 ing out, when he saw that he was late at the covert 

 side. ' At last, as the first hound challenged, and no 

 Fairfax was to the fore, he cried out aloud, close to 

 Matuschevitz, who had a shrewd enough guess how 

 matters were going, 



'' By G — I knew it. The militia colonel Jias 

 backed out. Fifty to a poneyhe don't show to-day." 



Long Rearsby wood stands on the highest knoll of 

 a long crest of knolls ; the lane by which Fairfax and 

 Mary were sauntering unconsciously along, lay below 

 it, and in one place a cross lane ran up from it in a 

 right line, to the spot where Jardinier and the Russian 

 Count were standing, as the former uttered this choice 

 morsel of the vernacular. 



In the very point of time in which he spoke, it so 

 chanced that the pair crossed the opening of the lane, 

 full in view of the field. Mary Morton's fair neck 

 was bent, and her eyes fixed on Bonnibelle's mane just 

 above the withers, her hands lying listlessly in her lap, 

 the reins flowing loose, and the mare choosing her own 

 path. Fairfax was leaning toward — almost over — 

 her ; and the animation of his demeanor was visible 

 even at that distance. 



Matuschevitz twigged it all in a minute, pointed ma- 

 liciously with his whip to the graceful couple, and 

 said — 



" You would lose, to a certainty, Jardinier ; for 

 there he comes with his elle ; and by all appearance , 

 they are both listening to sweeter sounds, than this'' 

 dog-music, melodious as it is — " At this second the 

 fox broke straight for the osier holt. " By Jove !" 

 shouted the Count, " if pug holds that line, Fairfax 



