tors in that field, and that the Heavy-top gentlemen
were not prepared to be cut _down_, at all events by _a woman_. Cousin
John seems to know them all and to be a universal favourite.

"Who's the lady, John, my boy?" whispered a fat squire in a purple
garment, with a face to match; "good seat on a horse, eh? rides like a
bird, I'll warrant her." I did not catch John's answer; but the
corpulent sportsman nodded, and smiled, and winked, and wheezed out,
"Lucky dog--pretty cousin--double harness."

I don't know what he meant; but that it was something intensely
ludicrous I gather from his nearly choking with laughter at his own
concluding observation, though John blushed and looked rather like a
fool.

"Who's that girl on the chestnut?" I again heard asked by a
slang-looking man with red whiskers meeting under his chin; "looks
like a larker--I must get introduced to her," added the conceited
brute. How I hated him! If he had ventured to speak to me, I really
think I could have struck him over the face with my riding-whip.

"I told you it would not be long before we met, Miss Coventry," said a
well-known voice beside me; and turning round, I shook hands with
Captain Lovell; and I am ashamed to confess, shook all over into the
bargain. I am always a little nervous the first day of the season. How
well he looked in his red coat and neat appointments, with his
graceful seat upon a horse, and so high-bred, amongst all the country
squires and jolly yeomen that surrounded us! He had more colour too
than when in London, and altogether I thought I had never seen him
looking so handsome. The chestnut with the wicked eye, showing off his
fine shape, now divested of clothing, curvetted and bent to his
rider's hand as if he thoroughly enjoyed that light restraining touch:
the pair looked what the gentlemen call "all over like going," and I
am sure one of them thought so too.

"I saw your horses on their way to Muddlebury yesterday," I at length
found courage to say. "Are you going to hunt all the season with the
Heavy-top?"

"How long do you stay at Dangerfield?" was the counter question from
Frank; "you see I know the name of the place already; I believe I
could find my way now about the Park; very picturesque it is too by
night, Miss Coventry. Do you like music by moonlight?"

"Not if it's played out of tune," I answered with a laugh and a blush;
but just then Squire Haycock, whom I scarcely knew in his hunting
costume, rod