The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 350: what you’re looking at

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RO a a A psec ade es, muh ee eee asked Juliana. “For he of course is the best judge respecting the danger to be incurred.” “You shall sve me take a gate first,” replied the Squire; “and then you four ladies can constitute a jury to decide whether Lord Harold shall attempt the same achievement.” * Indeed, if there be any danger,” said Juliana, throwing a look of alarm upon her lover, «I can- not think of permitting even yox to try the feat.” “Danger, my dear Miss Farefield!” exclaimed the Squive, at the same time her with @ look of grateful rapture: “there is none for a really good horseman.” “ Nevertheless,” said “TI would much rather that Lord Harold should follow the advice which his aunt and sister have given him. It is foolish to run risks of this kind.” “Well, we shall seo,” ejaculated Harold, _ from his seat. “Come, Mr. Hawkshaw—you « I will go down to the stables and have the horse brought out; and the ladies will pefhaps join us presently in the park.” No objection was offered to this proposal, and the two gentlemen accordingly withdrew. The ladies then ascended to their chambers to put on their walking attire; and in about half-an-hour they all four traversed the gardens and entered the park, where Mr. Hawkshaw was already mounted on his splendid horse, showing off ita paces to Lord Harold Staunton, who admired the animal exceedingly. “ Let us proceed,” said the Squire, “ towards yon- ver palings. There is a five-barred gate in that Juliana walked by the side of the steed which her admirer rode: and true to the tactics which she had so skilfully adopted, first to captivate and after- wards to secure Mr. Hawkshaw’s heart, ube talked ty him of nothing else but his favourite steed. * Pray, Harold,” said Florina, taking her brother's arm, “do not attempt anything rash. Do not, I beseech you! An aecident so soon occurs.” “ How is it, Flo,” inquired Staunton, “‘ that you are 80 anxious concerning me all of a sudden id “ How can you talk in this mauner, Harold P’ said his sister, gazing up at him reproachfally as she walked by his side. “Oh! I thought you were rather cool to me yosterday after my return—and likewise this morn- ing. I did not know, however,” continued Staunton, “in what way I had offended you——” “But whatsoever amount of offence you might give me, Harold,” interrupted his sister, “I should still be anxious concerning you all the same; and therefore I beg that you will undertake nothing rash. Of course I am no judge of horses; but it seems to me that Mr. Hawkshaw’s is very spirited, and that it is one which only a person accustomed to ride it, and who therefore knows it well, ought to attempt any bold feat with.” “Well, my dear Flo,” returned Harold carelessly, “we shall see all about it presently. Pray dun’t alarm yourself beforehand.” Lady Saxondale and Lady Macdonald had fullowed at a little distance, and were conversing on the same subject—the former being to all appearances quite as averse as the latter that Staunton should take so daring a leap with a steed which he had never ridden - ee @Ea wwe —w wo PT un © 2 © é tt A tt tt te THE MYSTERIRS OF THE COURT. 830 In a few minutes the palings skirting the park were reached; and a halt was made. Thare was 8 very high gate in that boundary; and this was the one which Mr. Hawkshaw proposed to leap. Ju- liana raised her eyes towards him with a look of tenderness and alarm-—so that the Squire could scarcely refrain from bending down and giving ute terance to a few words expressive of his rapture at the interest whioh she thus demonstrated on his behalf. Yet he did restrain himself; because the period which he had prescribed for courtship cre avowing his had not yet passed: but then he looked all he would have said, and the eloquence of his eyes told a tale satisfactory encugh to the intriguing and selfish Miss Farefield. Taking a proper distance—but with the uncon- cern and fearlessness of a man who knew perfsstly well what his horse could do, and what he himself might in all eafety venture—Gquire Hawkshaw gale lopped the steed at the gate and cleared it in the most beautiful style, to the admiration of those who beheld him. Cantering into the middle of the field on the ether side of the park-railings, he wheeled the horse round—gallopped it back again at the gate—and leaped over ia the satiné admirable man- ner as before. “There!” he said, springing from the steed as he reached the spot where the ladies had remained standing with Lord Harold : “ you see that anything ean be done with this horse.” “Then I am sure that I need not fear to venture,” said the young nobleman: and he advanced to teke the bridle from the Squire’s hand. . * No, Harold!’ eriod Florina: “ do not, I bescech you—do not |” But by the time she had uttered these words, her brother had sprung upon the horee; and gallopping away, he made a wide circuit, not only to settle himeelf well upon the animal’s back and try ite paces for himself, but also to convince the Squire that he was no mean equestrian. “Your ladyship need fear nothing,” said Mr. Hawkshaw, addressing himeelf to Fiorina : “for your brother is quite capable of doing with that horse whatsoever I can do.” “But you are such a superb rider,” remarked Juliana in an undertone, accompanying her come pliment with a tender look. “Tord Harold is as good as [ am,” returned the Squire, surveying Staunton’s equestrian perform- ance with the eye of a cosnoiseur. “Bee, he is going to take the gate! Stand back a little. Pray, don’t be afraid, ladies! Ican assure you he is all safe. It is perfectly right—he knows what he is about. Why, he sits upon the back of thas horse as if he formed part of it. There—eway ho ” And away Lord Harold did go, clearing the gate in as fine a style as Mr. Hawkshaw had already twice done. Bat all in an instant shrieks burst forth from the ladies, and an ejaculation of alarm from the Squire: for scarcely had Staunton leapt the gate, when he disappeared from the horse’s back —the steed gallopped on—and he was left lying in the field. ‘© heaven, he is killed! he is killed!” was the wild cry that issued from Fiorina’s lips: and she sprang frantically towards the gate. “Do not be alarmed, dear Fio,” said Havold, CO COMIC LOO