THE NICEST LITTLE HORSE IN THE WORLD. 11 



manner of means, and sat for some time in 

 solemn reflection on what Greenwood liad said 

 the night before. 



He touched the mare in the shafts with the 

 point of his whip, and we rounded the corner to 

 the Green Man, where the meet had been. 



" We are late ! Look ! they've all gone. 

 There's uncle beckoning — I hope he isn't angry 

 — and there are the horses. The new one's a 

 beautiful creature, isn't he?" Mrs. Greenwood 

 said ; and I looked along the road to see her 

 uncle on his cob waving his arm to us. 



A handsome grey mare with a side saddle, 

 and two horses equipped for masculine riders, 

 were being led about. I did not know which 

 was "the new one," but speedily concluded that 

 the animal which held up its head, pricked its 

 ears, and gazed at us was mine, and concerning 

 him I felt, to be candid, the reverse of comfort- 

 able. 



I jumped down, however, helped Mrs. Green- 

 wood to descend, and shook hands with her 

 uncle, who was slightly put out at our delay, 

 and explained that the hounds had been gone 

 five minutes at least to draw the Crooked Lane 

 Spinney, where they were certain to find a fox ; 

 so that if we were not very sharp we should 

 miss them. 



