276 HUNTINGCROP HALL 



" His eye appears slightly blood-shot, doesn't 



it ? " I hazarded ; for he was exhibiting a large 

 amount of what I imagine should have been white, 

 in an unsuccessful attempt to look at his tail with- 

 out turning his head round. " Is he quiet with 

 hounds ? " 



" Playful — a little playful," was his not assuring 

 reply. '' But we must be off, gentlemen. It's 

 three miles to Blackbrook, and it won't do to be 

 late ! " And he led the way to the Hall, where I 

 selected my virgin whip from the rack, and swallow- 

 ing a nip of orange-brandy, which a servant provi- 

 dentially handed to me at that moment, went forth 

 to meet my fate. 



Laura, declining offers of assistance from the 

 crowd of pink-coated young gentlemen who were 

 sucking cigars in the porch, was put into the 

 saddle by her own groom. I think she looked to 

 me for aid, but I was constrained to stare studiously 

 in the opposite direction, having a very vague idea 

 of the method by which young ladies are placed in 

 their saddles. Then I commenced, and ultimately 

 effected, the ascent of The Sultan : a process which 

 appeared to me precisely identical with climbing to 

 the deck of a man-of-war. 



" Stirrups all right, sir ? " asked tlie groom. 



" This one's rather too long. — No, it's the other 



