Part 23 (1/2)
Among the laurels at the bottom of the park a fox was found, and then there was a great deal of riding about the grounds. All this was much enjoyed by the ladies who were on foot,--and by the Senator who wandered about the place alone. A gentleman's park is not always the happiest place for finding a fox. The animal has usually many resources there and does not like to leave it. And when he does go away it is not always easy to get after him. But ladies in a carriage or on foot on such occasions have their turn of the sport. On this occasion it was nearly one before the fox allowed himself to be killed, and then he had hardly been outside the park palings. There was a good deal of sherry drank before the party got away and hunting men such as Major Caneback began to think that the day was to be thrown away. As they started off for Shugborough Springs, the little covert on John Runce's farm which was about four miles from Rufford Hall, Sir John asked the Major to get on another animal. ”You've had trouble enough with her for one day, and given her enough to do.” But the Major was not of that way of thinking. ”Let her have the day's work,” said the Major. ”Do her good. Remember what she's learned.”
And so they trotted off to Shugborough.
While they were riding about the park Morton had kept near to Miss Trefoil. Lord Rufford, being on his own place and among his own coverts, had had cares on his hand and been unable to devote himself to the young lady. She had never for a moment looked up at her lover, or tried to escape from him. She had answered all his questions, saying, however, very little, and had bided her time. The more gracious she was to Morton now the less ground would he have for complaining of her when she should leave him by-and-by. As they were trotting along the road Lord Rufford came up and apologized. ”I'm afraid I've been very inattentive, Miss Trefoil; but I dare say you've been in better hands.”
”There hasn't been much to do,--has there?”
”Very little. I suppose a man isn't responsible for having foxes that won't break. Did you see the Senator? He seemed to think it was all right. Did you hear of John Runce?” Then he told the story of John Runce, which had been told to him.
”What a fine old fellow! I should forgive him his rent.”
”He is much better able to pay me double. Your Senator, Mr. Morton, is a very peculiar man.”
”He is peculiar,” said Morton, ”and I am sorry to say can make himself very disagreeable.”
”We might as well trot on as Shugborough is a small place, and a fox always goes away from it at once. John Runce knows how to train them better than I do.” Then they made their way on through the straggling horses, and John Morton, not wis.h.i.+ng to seem to be afraid of his rival, remained alone. ”I wish Caneback had left that mare behind,”
said the lord as they went. ”It isn't the country for her, and she is going very nastily with him. Are you fond of hunting, Miss Trefoil?”
”Very fond of it,” said Arabella who had been out two or three times in her life.
”I like a girl to ride to hounds,” said his lords.h.i.+p. ”I don't think she ever looks so well.” Then Arabella determined that come what might she would ride to hounds.
At Shugborough Springs a fox was found before half the field was up, and he broke almost as soon as he was found. ”Follow me through the handgates,” said the lord, ”and from the third field out it's fair riding. Let him have his head, and remember he hangs a moment as he comes to his fence. You won't be left behind unless there's something out of the way to stop us.” Arabella's heart was in her mouth, but she was quite resolved. Where he went she would follow. As for being left behind she would not care the least for that if he were left behind with her. They got well away, having to pause a moment while the hounds came up to Tony's horn out of the wood. Then there was plain sailing and there were very few before them. ”He's one of the old sort, my lord,” said Tony as he pressed on, speaking of the fox.
”Not too near me, and you'll go like a bird,” said his lords.h.i.+p.
”He's a nice little horse, isn't he? When I'm going to be married, he'll be the first present I shall make her.”
”He'd tempt almost any girl,” said Arabella.
It was wonderful how well she went, knowing so little about it as she did. The horse was one easily ridden, and on plain ground she knew what she was about in a saddle. At any rate she did not disgrace herself and when they had already run some three or four miles Lord Rufford had nearly the best of it and she had kept with him. ”You don't know where you are I suppose,” he said when they came to a check.
”And I don't in the least care, if they'd only go on,” said she eagerly.
”We're back at Rufford Park. We've left the road nearly a mile to our left, but there we are. Those trees are the park.”
”But must we stop there?”
”That's as the fox may choose to behave. We shan't stop unless he does.” Then young Hampton came up, declaring that there was the very mischief going on between Major Caneback and Jemima. According to Hampton's account, the Major had been down three or four times, but was determined to break either the mare's neck or her spirit. He had been considerably hurt, so Hampton said, in one shoulder, but had insisted on riding on. ”That's the worst of him,” said Lord Rufford.
”He never knows when to give up.”
Then the hounds were again on the scent and were running very fast towards the park. ”That's a nasty ditch before us,” said the Lord.
”Come down a little to the left. The hounds are heading that way, and there's a gate.” Young Hampton in the meantime was going straight for the fence.
”I'm not afraid,” said Arabella.
”Very well. Give him his head and he'll do it.”
Just at that moment there was a noise behind them and the Major on Jemima rushed up. She was covered with foam and he with dirt, and her sides were sliced with the spur. His hat was crushed, and he was riding almost altogether with his right hand. He came close to Arabella and she could see the rage in his face as the animal rushed on with her head almost between her knees. ”He'll have another fall there,” said Lord Rufford.
Hampton who had pa.s.sed them was the first over the fence, and the other three all took it abreast. The Major was to the right, the lord to the left and the girl between them. The mare's head was perhaps the first. She rushed at the fence, made no leap at all, and of course went headlong into the ditch. The Major still stuck to her though two or three voices implored him to get off. He afterwards declared that he had not strength to lift himself out of the saddle.