284 HUNTINGCROP HALL 



attempt it ! Well, Heathertopper ! Laura, my 

 dear," — for she and the bulky Baronet at this 

 moment arrived at the head of a straggling detach- 

 ment of followers — " you missed a treat in not 

 seeing Smoothley charge the brook : 



' Down in tlie hollow there, shiggish and idle, 



Runs the dark stream where the willow trees grow, 

 Harden your heart, and catch hold of your bridle — 

 Steady him — rouse him —and over we go ! ' 



Isn't that it ? It was beautiful ? " 



It might have been in his opinion ; in mine it 

 was simply an act of unconscious insanity, whicli I 

 had rather die than intentionally repeat. 



" I didn't see you all the time, Mr Smoothley ; 

 where were you ? " Laura asked. 



" Where was he ? " cried the Major. " Not 

 following you, my dear. He took his own line, 

 and, by Jove ! it was a right one ! " 



It was not in these terms that I had expected to 

 hear the Major addressing me, and it was rather 

 bewildering. Still I trust that I was not puffed up 

 with an unseemly vanity as Laura rode back by my 

 side. She looked lovely with the flush of exercise 

 on her cheek, and the sparkle of excitement in her 

 eyes ; and as we passed homewards through the 

 quiet country lanes I forgot the painful creases 

 that were afflicting me, and with as much eloquence 



