MY FIRST DAY'S FOX-HUNTING 129 



The cover was a very large one, and whilst we 

 had been talking all the people had disappeared. I 

 told the ladies where the dogs were ; and Emily at 

 once came to the conclusion that, if we went round 

 the other way, which was shorter, we should meet 

 the " field " at " Keeper's Clump." Acting on this 

 suggestion, we turned back and cantered round to 

 the other side of the cover. As we did so I felt 

 that field-riding was my forte ; it was so much 

 more comfortable than hard road-riding, and I at 

 once resolved to make hunting my study and only 

 amusement. My cousins continued to tease me as 

 we went along ; but to my delight Miss Trafford 

 sided with me, thus giving me confirmation of the 

 hope I had cherished at the ball, that she was not 

 indifferent to the attentions I then paid her, slight 

 as those attentions necessarily were. 



Our passage of arms was suspended by our 

 arrival at the far end of the cover, where the field 

 were awaiting, as I was informed, the decision of 

 the master as to what cover to " draw " next. I 

 wondered whether they had any artists with them, 

 and what good could come of drawing a cover 

 with which nearly every one seemed familiar. 

 But this is parenthetical. A stone wall, about 

 four feet high, separated us from the rest of the 

 field. 



ii I 



