138 MY FIRST DAY'S FOX-HUNTING 



quotation from some lines I afterwards wrote 

 to Miss Trafford.) There was then a slight 

 break in the thread of my thoughts, and after 

 that I found myself lying in the midst of some 

 young fir-trees, whilst Iron Duke was quietly 

 browsing on the leafless twigs of a tree on the 

 other side of the wall. Gentle reader ! I am sure 

 you must feel for my unfortunate position. I will 

 not torture you further by relating the painful 

 particulars of how I scrambled over the wall ; how 

 I got on Iron Duke, only to tumble off again ; how 

 I nearly broke my neck before I got home ; how 

 Philley declared I had broken the horse's knees ; 

 how he made me pay £50 for the animal; how I 

 sold him the next week for £10 (less £2 for 

 carriage) ; and, worst of all, how Miss Trafford 

 jilted me, and my cousins — cruel girls — laughed 

 at my misfortunes and made sport of my troubles. 

 Indeed, with all these we have nothing to do, for 

 they happened after " My First Day's Fox-hunting." 



