Evan Harrington -- Volume 4

Foremost, on her grey cob, was Rose, having on her right her uncle Seymour, and on her left Ferdinand Laxley. Behind came Mrs. Evremonde, flanked by Drummond and Evan. Then followed Jenny Graine,

idea of which had sprung from Laxley's boasts of his horsemanship: and Rose, quick as fire, had backe

him take care of his

eat you in anything!' exc

d excel, and shine. Billiards, or jumping, or classical acquirements, it mattered not-Evan must come first. He had crossed the foils with Laxley, and disarmed him; for Mel h

hen not interfered with; fond of the table, and brimful of all the jokes of the county, the accent of which just seasoned his speech. He had somehow plunged into a sort of half-engagement with Miss Carrington. At his age, and to ladies of Miss Carrington's age, men unhappily do not plunge head-foremost, or Miss Carrington would have had him long before. But he

nuing the species. Mr. George was certain that he had not been fighting shy of the fair Carrington of late, nor had he been unfaithful. He had only been in an extraordinary state of occupation. Messages for Lady Racial had to be delivered,

to surrender; but the fun seized him, and, standing up in his stirrups, he gathered his coat-tails in a bunch, and waggled them with a jolly laugh, which was taken up below, and the clamp of hoofs resounded on the turf as Mr. George led off, after once more, with a jocose twist in his seat, showing them the brush mockingly. Away went fox, a

hunted animal be?' i

celyn, pulling out her watch.

' breathed the Countes

said Lady Jocelyn. 'The sq

Carrington, who sat a little straighter, and the Countess, hating manifestations of stiff-backedness, could not

before she touched a nerve of the enamoured lady, as she knew she did in

en shun his

endettas and dramas that, with savage nations, spring from the spilling of blood. Instead of an eye for an eye, a

poken of casually, the Countess had not looked a natural look. Perhaps it was her present inflamed fancy. At any rate the Countess was offensive now. She was positively vulgar, in consequence, to the mind of Miss Carrington, and Miss Carrington was drawn to think of a

and Lady Jocelyn, and the hunt was seen; Mr. George som

Rose?' said Lady Jocel

aw, Harrington,'

,' said Lady Jocelyn.

been set up

ther was a capital horseman, and taught him fencing, riding, and

all?' asked Lady Jocely

n't got a brothe

inued: 'I mean th

took hold of Andrew's ingenuous cheeks, and his hurried glance at an

face under the palm of

er-in-law isn't mu

gaze of the Countess; and he must have been exposed-there was a fear that the ghost of Sir Abraham would have dar

ure of a purl, but she could have s

dividual's misfortune. 'Dear me, my lady! how old Tom and I used to jump the brook there, to be sure! and wh

ady Jocelyn, spying at

it's poor

ence from which the plai

enjoy his ride this da

t of enjoyment for a

er heart sank; for she was sure he would recognize her, and a

ear Countess, what will the future member do without you

me kind courtesy, Lady

ut my husban

ladyship. 'And if the Count cannot

kind,' said

than a week,' said Lady Jocelyn. 'He is the great British hu

y. 'I don't like division bet

e Count, her husband. She was heard to m

field to Melville, d

ce

suggestion,' said t

stay to see us through

ey must be making strai

here. George hasn'

n't

requested to know the na

George Uplift w

man to drive to a certain spot, trotted on with Andrew, sayi

d it best to rea

ll-bred,' said Lady Jocelyn, and A

Harry and Evan close on the leap, in the act of shaking his head at it; and many who inspected the leap would have deemed it

e, and William Harvey, rode with Mr. George in quest o

laughing, and introducing him to the Countes

for my next run,' said M

going to

y asked this question;

dy Jocelyn. 'See here: what's

them along the green lane, and thus

reak-neck leap, and Rose won't allow me to stop and see it, though she knows I'm just as fond of Evan as she is

said Lady Jocelyn;

e maid. Lady Jocelyn rode on, saying to herself: 'That girl has

r. George, following her with the rest

arrington,' q

ughed- 'Harrington? 'Gad, if he takes the leap it'll be od

rummond

e Lymport wonder. Old

ven't ye he

t efflorescence of sublime imposture! I've seen the Regent; but one's life doesn't seem complete without ha

Mr. George; and was going on, when Seymour Jocelyn stroked

four fields distant from the point where Rose, with a handkerchief

m, but her ladyship marked her good sense by saying: 'Let them go, now they're about it'; for sh

ly looking him down, and letting him understand what her will was; and her mother, and Drummond, and Seymour who beheld this, had a common sentiment of admiration for the gallant girl. But away went the rivals. Black Lymport was the favourite, though none of the men thought he would be put at the fence. The excitement became contagious. The Countess threw up her veil

llow!' said Mr. George. 'Gad, it looks l

, more for pace than to take the jump. The ladies kept plying random queries and suggestions: the Countess wishing to know whether they coul

the blac

?' said Andrew,

Mr. George, and bolted off

carriage, and Andrew drew a breath, saying: 'Evan has bea

r. Harrington has had a fall. Don

vided between alarms of sisterly affection a

ar when they were met by Harry Jocelyn riding in hot haste, and he bellowed

nd the rest, Evan's dust-stained body was stretched along the road, and his head was lying in the lap of Rose, who, pale, heedless of anything spoken by those around her, and

don't die