MY FIRST DAY'S FOX-HUNTING 125 



ostler gave me a " leg up " and over the other side) I 

 was successful. The stirrup-straps having been 

 adjusted, I set out for the station; and in my 

 journey thither I was conscious that the command- 

 ing presence of my horse and the easy graceful 

 attitude of his rider were fully appreciated by the 

 numerous passers-by who stopped to stare at us 

 — doubtless in admiration. One thing, though, 

 nettled me a bit. Just as I got opposite the club, 

 and was waving my whip to Fitz-Jones, De Brown, 

 and some other fellows who were standing in the 

 portico, my horse shied at a wheelbarrow, and I 

 had some difficulty in getting comfortable in the 

 saddle again. I gently remonstrated with the boy 

 who was wheeling the barrow for not getting out 

 of my way, when the impudent little scoundrel 

 turned round and shouted, " Oh, crikey ! yer ain't 

 very safe up there ! Get inside ; safer inside ! " 

 Whereupon the whole of the bystanders, including 

 my friends of the club, burst out laughing. I, of 

 course, could not descend from my high horse to 

 chastise the young urchin, and as I couldn't think 

 of anything smart to say to him, I treated him 

 with the silent contempt he deserved, and rode on. 

 But still, as I said before, this nettled me. 



With the exception of this trifling contretemps, I 

 arrived safely at Stonington Wood, the place ap- 



