Belles and Ringers

gay cavalcade rode decorously and discreetly; but nearing Tapton Downs, the

"We turn off the main road a little farther on, and then, if you remember, we have lovely t

ptu race; that will be

ll these horses-have I

on

really never tried them in that way I should think old Se

turn off across the downs. You shall bet me two dozen pair of gloves to one. I always make him do th

those gloves if I win them; and as I did my best for you yest

ing over the downs without trespassing. I'll ride forward, and be judge and wi

ht to start from. If one of you will take the turf on the right-hand side, and the other that on the left, and do your best till you come to Jim, we shall all h

hat young lady's performance with a critical eye. A first-rate horsewoman herself, she was by no means favourably impressed with it. Sylla rides well enough, but her seat is not su

held firmly by the head, pretty well convinces her that he is a first-flight man to hounds, and probably has appeared in silk on a racecourse. The match terminates as might be anticipated: Sylla, under the laudable impression that she is making her advantage in the weights tell, gallop

ove me follow me.'" And, putting King Cole at the small fence that bordered the road, she jumped into the big grass-field on

's hack, though admirable in his place, is not quite calculate

ve the negotiation of two or three good-sized fences, and he thought it just possible that the girl would prefer not being called upon to ride over anything of that sort. Sylla was possessed of a good many accomplishments, but riding across country

am sure we can go anywhere that the rest o

y jumped her horse into the field, and can

rtoris; the governor's hack can jump well enough if you don't hurry him

sed his pleasure by shaking his head and reaching hard at his bit. Laura Chipchase's horse

ing, too, is fidgeting most uncomfortably. A g

the leaders, and with that intent commenced bucketing her mare along in rather merciless fashion. In vain did Jim shout words of warning. She turned a deaf ear to them. Had he not recommended that she should keep the road? Did he think the art of crossing a country was known only to the maidens of Fernshire? She was determined to catch

usly mentioned, put Sylla's blood thoroughly up. Heedless of Jim's "For God's sake, take a pull!" she struck her mare sharply with the whip, and sent her at it as fast as she could lay legs to the ground. The consequence was the mare took off too soon, and the pair landed in the next field somewhat in a heap. Jim was over and off his horse in a minute, and at once came to the discomfited fair's assistance. It is seldom that a lady shows to advantage after a regular "crump

o her feet; "but I could cry with vexation. I had set my heart upon catching those two; bu

fied her toilette as far as circumstances permitted, was once more in the saddle. That she presented a rather dilapidated and woebegone appear

k of my hat, for nobody ever did, nor ever will, succeed in straightening that article into any semblance of its

t hurt in any wa

s shrug of her shoulders; "I never thoug

"You are well pleased that your cousi

inds. They would have laughed, and, under pretence of assistance, called attention," and here the girl looked ruefully down at her rent ha

blindness is wisdom as far as

y fall was my own fault; that if I had listened to your warning it wouldn't have happened; and you remain mute. Laura

cious disclaimer of Miss Sylla's "grief

rein till they once more found themselves near the high-road, sweeping round from the point they had left it to this, in an arc, by traversing the chord o

exclaimed Blanche. "Perhaps your cousin,

ven't seen her since she was quite a small child; but I must say,

ble she has tried," ob

k and see what ha

nd Mr. Sartoris will no doubt take every care of her. We had bette

horsemanship" saw the leaders vanish from her view with much satisfaction. Under Jim Bloxam's guidance, and proceeding quietly over more moderate fences, which, though not the straightest, was perhaps the safest, path to the high-road, they regained it without furt

responsibilities, Captain Bloxam. You have only, if possible, to smu

will in all probability insure your reaching the rectory grounds unnoti

o the Grange the next evening, with a view to charades and an impromptu valse or two, Lady Mary received the intelligence with

oman could, but I cannot contend with destiny. It is sad; but whatever with due forethought I propose, destiny, embodied

ratified by the outcome of the trip to Trotbury, "I really cannot see that you have any cau

things quite so well as I thought you did. A variety of belles disturbs concent

our conversation some days since, you object to a peal of belles. Your doct

continued, as she took her bed-room candle, "as you have thought fit to improvise a ball, you had better take care that th

;" and from the inflexion of his mother's voice, Jim gathered that his progr

dy Mary's discontent before she laid her head upon her pillow. She had not bee

amma dear, to ask yo

related to Mrs

y, I have known Laura and her sister all their lives; and had the

Trotbury that Mrs. Wriothesley was her aunt, and that she was

ere was some reason for my instinctive dislike to that girl. That a niece of that ho

lla Chipchase myself, you cannot say that of her. I know you don't like Mrs. Wr

at smiles upon him delightful; but I lose all patience when I speak of Mrs. Wriothesley. Of course it's quite possible for

nder of the season,

s. Wriothesley is bad enough as it is, and hard enough to keep at arms' length; but Mrs. Wriothesley with a pretty girl to chaperon-

s rivals, and recalled rather bitterly that campaign of four or five years back, when another niece of that lady's successfully carried off an eligible parti that she, Lady Mary, had at that time selected as suitable for her eldest daughter. She had congratulated her antagonist in most orthodox fashion when

mother's reverie. "Although you don't like Mrs. Wriothesley,

Lady Mary, with a vindictive emphasis th

mself into the business heart and soul. That he should take counsel with Mrs. Sartoris next morning concerning the proposed charades was only what might have been expected; and then, an unusual thing in a country-house party, a dearth of talent was discovered. Neither Blanche nor the Misses Evesham had ever taken part in anything of the kind, a

gs over with the young ladies there? Miss Sylla is v

o think of it before! Get your hat, Mrs. Sartoris.

rectory, Jim plunged

o-night. Rumour, in the shape of Pansey Cottrell, declares,

imposing upon you to a great extent," replied Sylla

been set down for me, so that of course I knew exactly what I had to say and when to say it; but in charades, Captain Blox

arades. It is wont to result in all the characters wanting to talk together, or else in nobody apparently having anything to say, or in one character being so enamoure

ourselves in Miss Sylla's hands, and elect h

and to leave the originator to carry it ou

n hour or two to think out my words, I

have a rehearsal this afternoon, rummage up the properti

ase. "And now, Sylla, the sooner you set th