w. Even in Glasgow a
hunter was to be hired, and could be sent forty or fifty miles out
of the town in the morning and brought back in the evening. Lizzie
had learned all about that, and had told him. If he would call
at MacFarlane's stables in Buchanan Street, or even write to Mr.
MacFarlane, he would be sure to get a horse that would carry him.
MacFarlane was sending horses down into the Ayrshire country every
day of his life. It was simply an affair of money. Three guineas for
the horse, and then just the expense of the railway. Frank, who knew
quite as much about it as did his cousin, and who never thought much
of guineas or of railway tickets, promised to meet the party at the
meet ready equipped. His things would go on by train, and Lizzie must
send for them to Troon. He presumed a beneficent Providence would
take the horse back to the bosom of Mr. MacFarlane. Such was the
tenour of his letter. "If he don't mind, he'll find himself astray,"
said Sir Griffin. "He'll have to go one way by rail and his horse
another." "We can manage better for our cousin than that," said
Lizzie, with a rebuking nod.

But there was hunting from Portray before Frank Greystock came. It
was specially a hunting party, and Lizzie was to be introduced to the
glories of the field. In giving her her due, it must be acknowledged
that she was fit for the work. She rode well, though she had not
ridden to hounds, and her courage was cool. She looked well on
horseback, and had that presence of mind which should never desert a
lady when she is hunting. A couple of horses had been purchased for
her, under Lord George's superintendence,--his conjointly with
Mrs. Carbuncle's,--and had been at the castle for the last ten
days--"eating their varra heeds off," as Andy Gowran had said in
sorrow. There had been practising even while John Eustace was there,
and before her preceptors had slept three nights at the castle, she
had ridden backwards and forwards half-a-dozen times over a stone
wall. "Oh, yes," Lucinda had said, in answer to a remark from
Sir Griffin, "It's easy enough,--till you come across something
difficult."

"Nothing difficult stops you," said Sir Griffin;--to which compliment
Lucinda vouchsafed no reply.

On the Monday Lizzie went out hunting for the first time in her
life. It must be owned that, as she put her habit on, and afterwards
breakfasted with all her guests in hunting gear around her, and then
was driven with them in her own