of ladies! I wonder your sister can
tolerate it." "She not only tolerates it," returned I, slightly
piqued at the contemptuous tone in which he spoke of Lawless, "but
is excessively amused by it; why, she said last night he was quite
delightful."

"I gave her credit for better taste," was Oaklands' reply; and striking
his horse impatiently with the spur, he dashed forward, and in a few
moments we had rejoined the others.

"I hope illness has not soured Harry's temper, but he certainly appears
more prone to take offence than in former days," was my inward comment,
as I pondered over his last words. "I am afraid Fanny has annoyed him;
I must speak to her, and give her a hint to be more careful for the
future."

Half an hour's brisk riding brought us to the outskirts of a broad
common, a great portion of which was covered by the gorse or furze from
which it took its name. Around the sides of this were gathered from
sixty to eighty well-mounted men, either collected in groups, to discuss
the various topics of local interest which occupy the minds of country
gentlemen, or riding up and down in parties of two and three together,
impatient for the ~335~~ commencement of their morning's sport; while,
in a small clear space, nearly in the centre of the furze-brake, were
stationed the hounds, with the huntsman and whippers-in. "There!"
exclaimed Lawless, "look at that! Talk about operas and exhibitions!
where will you find an exhibition as well worth seeing as that is? I
call that a sight for an empress. Now are not you glad I made you come,
Miss Fairlegh?"

"The red coats look very gay and picturesque, certainly," replied Fanny;
"and what loves of horses, with their satin skins glistening in the
sunshine! But I wish Rose Alba would not prick up her ears in that way;
I'm rather frightened."

While Lawless was endeavouring to convince her there was no danger, and
that he was able and willing to frustrate any nefarious designs which
might enter into the graceful little head of the white Arab, a young man
rode up to Oaklands, and shaking him warmly by the hand, congratulated
him on being once more on horseback.

"Ah, Whitcombe, it's a long time since you and I have met," returned
Harry; "you have been abroad, I think?" "Yes," was the reply; "Charles
and I have been doing the grand tour, as they call it." "How is your
brother?"

"Oh, he's all right, only he has grown a great pair of moustaches, and
won't cut them off; he h