iends in the settlement, and I
cannot part with him till we have had one more canter together over the
prairies. I want to show him to Kate, for he's a great original."

"Oh, that _will_ be charming!" cried Kate. "I should like of all things
to be introduced to the bold hunter.--Another cup of tea, Mr S--Harry,
I mean?"

Harry started on being thus unexpectedly addressed. "Yes, if you
please--that is--thank you--no, my cup's full already, Kate!"

"Well, well," broke in Mr Kennedy, senior, "I see you're all leagued
against me, so I give in. But I shall not accompany you on your ride,
as my bones are a little stiffer than they used to be," (the old
gentleman sighed heavily), "and riding far knocks me up; but I've got
business to attend to in my glass house which will occupy me till
dinner-time."

"If the business you speak of," began Charley, "is not incompatible with
a cigar, I shall be happy to--"

"Why, as to that, the business itself has special reference to tobacco,
and, in fact, to nothing else; so come along, you young dog," and the
old gentleman's cheek went into violent convulsions as he rose, put on
his cap, with the peak very much over one eye, and went out in company
with the young men.

An hour afterwards four horses stood saddled and bridled in front of the
house. Three belonged to Mr Kennedy; the fourth had been borrowed from
a neighbour as a mount for Jacques Caradoc. In a few minutes more,
Harry lifted Kate into the saddle, and having arranged her dress with a
deal of unnecessary care, mounted his nag. At the same moment Charley
and Jacques vaulted into their saddles, and the whole cavalcade galloped
down the avenue that led to the prairie, followed by the admiring gaze
of Mr Kennedy, senior, who stood in the doorway of his mansion, his
hands in his vest pockets, his head uncovered, and his happy visage
smiling through a cloud of smoke that issued from his lips. He seemed
the very personification of jovial good-humour, and what one might
suppose Cupid would become were he permitted to grow old, dress
recklessly, and take to smoking!

The prairies were bright that morning, and surpassingly beautiful. The
grass looked greener than usual, the dewdrops more brilliant as they
sparkled on leaf and blade and branch in the rays of an unclouded sun.
The turf felt springy, and the horses, which were first-rate animals,
seemed to dance over it, scarce crushing the wild-flowers beneath their
hoofs,