Part 49 (1/2)

He seems very much taken with her; and no wonder, for she is really excessively pretty; and when she is in spirits, as she was to-night, her manner is most piquante and fascinating.”

”Well, my dear boy,” was the reply, ”you know your friend best, and if he and f.a.n.n.y choose to take a fancy to each other, and you approve of it, I shall not say anything against it.”

Whereupon I kissed her, called her a dear, good old mother, and carried up for her, in token of affection, her work-box, her reticule, her candle and a basket, -331-- containing a large bunch of keys, sundry halfpence and three pairs of my own stockings which wanted mending, a process which invariably rendered them unwearable ever after.

CHAPTER XLII -- THE MEET AT EVERSLEY GORSE

”We'll make you some sport with the fox Ere we case him.”

--_All's Well that Ends Well_.

”Oh! for a fall, if fall she must, On the gentle lap of Flora; But still, thank Heaven, she clings to her seat.”

--_Hood_.

”She held his drooping head, Till given to breathe the freer air, Returning life repaid their care; He gazed on them with heavy sigh-- I could have wished e'en thus to die.”

--_Rokeby_.

IT had been arranged between my mother and Oaklands, in the earlier part of the evening on which the events described in the last chapter took place, that f.a.n.n.y should have her first ride on the day but one following, by which time it was supposed that the habit would be fit for service, and the young lady's mind sufficiently familiarised with the idea, to overcome a rather (as I considered) unnecessary degree of alarm which I believe would have led her, had she been allowed to decide for herself, to relinquish it altogether. The only stipulation my mother insisted on was, that I should accompany my sister in the character of chaperon, an arrangement to which, as it was quite evident that Lawless intended to form one of the party, I made no objection. Accordingly, on the day appointed, Oaklands made his appearance about ten o'clock, mounted on his favourite horse, and attended by a groom, leading the grey Arab which was destined to carry f.a.n.n.y, as well as a saddle-horse for me.

”Bravo, Harry! it does one good to see you and the 'Cid' together again,” exclaimed I, patting the arched neck of the n.o.ble animal; ”how well he is looking!”

”Is he not?” replied Oaklands warmly; ”the good old horse knew me as well as possible, and gave a neigh of pleasure when first I spoke to him. Is f.a.n.n.y nearly ready?”

”She will be here directly,” replied I; and the words had -332-- scarcely escaped my lips when she made her appearance, looking so lovely in her hat and habit, that I felt sure it would be all over with Lawless as soon as he saw her.

”Why, f.a.n.n.y,” exclaimed Oaklands, dismounting slowly and with effort, for he was still lamentably weak, ”I have not seen you in a habit so long, I declare I should scarcely have known you; the effect is quite magical.”

A smile and a blush were her only reply; and Oaklands continued, ”Will you not like to mount now? Lawless will join us; but he means' to abandon us again when we get near Eversley Gorse, for the superior attractions of a run with the subscription pack.”

”Oh, I hope the hounds will not come in our way,” exclaimed f.a.n.n.y; ”if you think there is any chance of their frightening my horse, I had better not ride to-day.”

”I do not think you need feel the least alarm; though spirited, Rose Alba is perfectly quiet; besides, we are not bound to ride towards Eversley, unless you approve of doing so,” replied Oaklands.

As he spoke, Lawless rode up just in time to catch the last few words.

He was dressed in an appropriate hunting costume, and sat his horse (a splendid black hunter, whose fiery temper rendered all those in whom the b.u.mp of caution was properly developed remarkably shy of him) as easily as if he formed part of the animal. As he checked his impatient steed, and taking off his hat, bowed to f.a.n.n.y, his eyes sparkling, and his whole countenance beaming with pleasure and excitement, he really looked quite handsome. The same idea seemed to strike f.a.n.n.y, who whispered to me, ”If ever your friend has his picture taken, it should be on horseback”.

”Good-morning, Miss Fairlegh!” cried Lawless, as flinging the rein to a groom, he sprang from the saddle, and bounded towards us; ”glad to see you in what I consider the most becoming dress a lady can wear--very becoming it is too,” he added, with a slight bend of the head to mark the compliment. ”What did I hear you say about not riding to Eversley?

You never can be so cruel as to deny me the pleasure of your company, and I must go there to join the meet. I would not have hunted to-day, though, if I had known you wished to ride in another direction.”

”It was only that f.a.n.n.y was afraid the hounds might frighten her horse,”

replied I.

”Oh, not the least danger; I'll take care of all that,” returned Lawless; ”the little white mare is as gentle as -333-- a lamb: I cantered her across the park myself yesterday on purpose to try--the sweetest thing for a lady I ever set eyes on. You have got some good cattle in your stables, Harry, I must own that.”

”Hadn't we better think of mounting? Time will not stand still for us,”

observed I.

”Let me a.s.sist you, f.a.n.n.y,” said Oaklands, advancing towards her.