carriage to the meet, there was
something of trepidation at her heart. And her feeling of cautious
fear in regard to money had received a shock. Mrs. Carbuncle had told
her that a couple of horses fit to carry her might perhaps cost her
about L180. Lord George had received the commission, and the cheque
required from her had been for L320. Of course she had written the
cheque without a word, but it did begin to occur to her that hunting
was an expensive amusement. Gowran had informed her that he had
bought a rick of hay from a neighbour for L75 15s. 9d. "God forgie
me," said Andy, "but I b'lieve I've been o'er hard on the puir man
in your leddyship's service." L75 15s. 9d. did seem a great deal of
money to pay; and could it be necessary that she should buy a whole
rick? There were to be eight horses in the stable. To what friend
could she apply to learn how much of a rick of hay one horse ought to
eat in a month of hunting? In such a matter she might have trusted
Andy Gowran implicitly; but how was she to know that? And then, what
if at some desperate fence she were to be thrown off and break her
nose and knock out her front teeth! Was the game worth the candle?
She was by no means sure that she liked Mrs. Carbuncle very much. And
though she liked Lord George very well, could it be possible that he
bought the horses for L90 each and charged her L160? Corsairs do do
these sort of things. The horses themselves were two sweet dears,
with stars on their foreheads, and shining coats, and a delicious
aptitude for jumping over everything at a moment's notice. Lord
George had not, in truth, made a penny by them, and they were good
hunters, worth the money;--but how was Lizzie to know that? But
though she doubted, and was full of fears, she could smile and look
as though she liked it. If the worst should come she could certainly
get money for the diamonds.

On that Monday the meet was comparatively near to them,--distant only
twelve miles. On the following Wednesday it would be sixteen, and
they would use the railway,--having the carriage sent to meet them
in the evening. The three ladies and Lord George filled the carriage,
and Sir Griffin was perched upon the box. The ladies' horses had gone
on with two grooms, and those for Lord George and Sir Griffin were
to come to the meet. Lizzie felt somewhat proud of her establishment
and her equipage;--but at the same time somewhat fearful. Hitherto
she knew but very little of the co