om which they started, which made the girls think that
the whole thing was divine. Once or twice there was a little bank,
and once or twice a little ditch,--just sufficient to make Ayala feel
that no possible fence would be a difficulty to Sprite. She soon
learnt that mode of governing her body which leaping requires, and
when she was brought into lunch at about two she was sure that she
could do anything which the art of hunting required. But at lunch an
edict went forth as to the two girls, against further hunting for
that day. Nina strove to rebel, and Ayala attempted to be eloquent
by a supplicating glance at the Colonel. But they were told that as
the horses would be wanted again on Friday they had done enough. In
truth, Tony had already trotted off with the hounds to Pringle's
Gorse, a distance of five miles, and the gentlemen who had lingered
over their lunch had to follow him at their best pace. "Pringle's
Gorse is not just the place for young ladies," Sir Harry said, and so
the matter had been decided against Nina and Ayala.

At about six Sir Harry, Colonel Stubbs, and the other gentlemen
returned, declaring that nothing quicker than their run from
Pringle's Gorse had ever been known in that country. "About six miles
straight on end in forty minutes," said the Colonel, "and then a kill
in the open."

"He was laid up under a bank," said young Gosling.

"He was so beat he couldn't carry on a field farther," said Captain
Batsby, who was staying in the house.

"I call that the open," said Stubbs.

"I always think I kill a fox in the open," said Sir Harry, "when the
hounds run into him, because he cannot run another yard with the
country there before him." Then there was a long discussion, as they
stood drinking tea before the fire, as to what "the open" meant, from
which they went to other hunting matters. To all this Ayala listened
with attentive ears, and was aware that she had spent a great day.
Oh, what a difference was there between Stalham and Kingsbury
Crescent!

The next two days were almost equally full of delight. She was taken
into the stables to see her horse, and as she patted his glossy coat
she felt that she loved Sprite with all her heart. Oh, what a world
of joy was this;--how infinitely superior even to Queen's Gate and
Glenbogie! The gaudy magnificence of the Tringles had been altogether
unlike the luxurious comfort of Stalham, where everybody was at his
ease, where everybody was good-nat