s came into my room, and told me
that he had been speaking to Cumberland with regard to the way in which
he had behaved to me about the mare, and that Cumberland professed
himself exceedingly sorry that the affair had so nearly turned out a
serious one, declaring he meant it quite as a joke, never expecting that
when I saw the mare I should venture to mount her.

"So you see," continued Lawless, "he merely wanted to have a good laugh
at you--nothing more. It was a thoughtless thing to do, but not so bad
as you had fancied it, by any means."

"Well," replied I, "as he says so, I am bound to believe him; but his
manner certainly gave me the impression that he intended me to ride her.
He went the right way to make me do so, at all events, by hinting that I
was afraid."

"Ah! he could not know that by intuition, you see," said Lawless; "he
thought, I daresay, as I did, that you were a mere molly-coddle, brought
up at your mother's apron-string, and had not pluck enough in you to do
anything sporting."

"It's not worth saying anything more about," replied I; "it will never
happen again: I am very much obliged to you, though."

"Oh, that's nothing," said Lawless; "if Cumberland had really meant to
break your neck, I should have fallen out with him; that would have been
too much of a good thing: however, as it is it's all right."

And so the conversation ended, though I felt far from satisfied in my
own mind as to the innocence of Cumberland's intentions.

On reaching the drawing-room I found the whole party assembled with the
exception of Mr. Henry Oaklands, who had not yet made his appearance.
At the moment of my entrance Mrs. Mildman, who had not seen the new
arrival, and who, like the rest of her sex, was somewhat curious, was
examining Coleman (who stood bolt upright before her, with his hands
behind him, looking like a boy saying his lesson) as to his manners and
appearance.

"Very tall, and dark hair and large eyes," continued Mrs. Mildman; "why,
he must be very handsome."

"He seems as if he were half-asleep," observed I.

~50~~"Not always," said Coleman; "did you see the look he gave me? he
seemed wide-awake enough then; I thought he was going to eat me."

"Dear me I why he must be quite a cannibal! besides, I don't think you
would be at all nice to eat, Mr. Coleman," said Mrs. Mildman, with a
smile.

"Horrid nasty, I'm sure," muttered Mullins, who was seated on the very
edge of his chair, and looked th