o!"

As Lawless pushed by me at the beginning of this speech, Oaklands
advanced towards him, and his pale cheek flushed with anger. Apparently,
however, changing his intention, he drew himself up haughtily, and,
turning on his heel, walked slowly to his horse, mounted, and reining
him back a few paces, sat motionless as an equestrian statue, gazing
on the party with a gloomy brow until we had started, when, suddenly
applying the spur, he joined us in a couple of bounds, and took his
station at Fanny's left hand. Lawless having appropriated the off side,
devoted himself to the double task of managing the Arab and doing the
agreeable to its fair rider, which latter design he endeavoured to
accomplish by chattering incessantly.

After proceeding a mile or two, Lawless sustaining the whole burden
of the conversation, while Oaklands never spoke a word, we came upon a
piece of level greensward.

"Here's a famous place for a canter, Miss Fairlegh," exclaimed Lawless;
"lean a little more towards me--that's right. Are you ready?--just
tickle her neck with the whip--not too hard--jerk the rein
slightly--gently, mare, gently!--there's a good horse, that's it!
Eh! don't ~334~~ you see she settles into her pace as quietly as a
rocking-horse--oh! she's a sweet thing for a feather-weight;" and
restraining the plunging of the fiery animal he rode, he leaned over,
and patted the Arab's arched neck, as they went off at an easy canter.

I was about to follow their example, but observing that Oaklands delayed
putting his horse in motion, it occurred to me that this being the first
ride he had taken since his illness, the exertion might possibly be too
much for his strength; I waited, therefore, till he joined me, when I
inquired whether he felt any ill effects from the unwonted exertion.

"No," was the reply. "I feel an odd kind of fluttering in my side, but
it is only weakness."

"Had you not better give it up for to-day, and let me ride back with you?
I dare say Lawless would not care about hunting for once, and would see
Fanny home."

"I will not go back!" he replied sternly; then checking himself, he
added in a milder tone, "I mean to say it is not necessary--really I do
not feel ill--besides, it was only a passing sensation, and is already
nearly gone."

He paused for a moment, and then continued, "How very dictatorial and
disagreeable Lawless has grown of late, and what absurd nonsense he
does talk when he is in the society