The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 354: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. peer asked Juliana. “For he of course is the best judge respecting the danger to be incurred.” You shall see 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 you to try the feat.” “Danger, my dear Miss Farefield!” exclaimed the Squire, at the same time rewarding her with . alook of grateful rapture: “there is none for a really good horseman.”’ “ Nevertheless,” said Lady Saxondale, “I 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 see,” ejaculated Harold, rising from his seat. ‘Come, Mr. Hawkshaw—you and I will go down to the stables and have the horse brought out; and the ladies will perhaps 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 its paces to Lord Harold Staunton, who admired the animal exceedingly. Let us proceed,” said the Squire, “ towards yon- der palings. There is a five-barred gate in that barrier.” | 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, she talked to 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 accident-so soon occurs.” “ How is it, Flo,” inquired Staunton, ‘‘ that you are sO very anxious concerning me all of a sudden ?” ~“ How can you talk in this manner, Harold ?” said his sister, gazing up at him reproachfully as she walked by his side. “Oh! I theught you were rather cool to me yesterday 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 sce all about it presently. Pray don’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 witaa steed which he had never ridden betore. 339 In a few minutes the palings skirting the park were reached; and a halt was made. There was a 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—sv that the Squire could scarcely refrain from bending down and giving ut- terance to a few words expressive of his rapture at the interest which she thus demonstrated on his behalf. Yet he did restrain himself; because the period which he had prescribed for courtship ere avowing his passion, had not yet passed: but then he looked all he would have said, and the eloquence of his eyes told a tale satisfactory enough to the intriguing and selfish Mies Farefield. Taking a proper distance—but with the uncon- cern and fearlessness of a man who knew perfectly well what his horse could do, and what he himself might in all safety venture—Squire Hawkshaw gal- 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 other side of the park-railings, he wheeled the horse round—gallopped it back again at the gate—and leaped over in the same 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: “ “yousee that anything can be done with this horse.’ “Then I am sure that I need not ee to venture,” said the young nobleman: and he advanced to take the bridle from the Squire’s hand. “ No, Harold!’ cried Florina: “ do not, I beseech you—do not!” But by the time she had uttered these words, her brother had sprung upon the horse; ard gallopping away, he made a wide circuit, not only to settle himself well upon the animal’s back and try its paces for himself, but also to convince the Squire that he was no mean equestrian. “ Your ladyship need fear nothing,” said Mr. Hawkshaw, addressing himself to Florina: “ 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 com- pliment with a tender look. “ Lord Harold is as good as I am,” returned the Squire, surveying Staunton’s equestrian perform- ance with the eye of a connoisewr. “See, he is going to take the gate! Stand back a little. Pray, don’t be afraid, ladies! I can assure you he is all safe. It is perfectly right—he knows what he is about. Why, he sits upon the back of that horse as if he formed part of #t. There—away he goes |” And away Lord IHarold did go, clearing the gate in as fine a style as Mr. Hawkshaw had already twice done. But 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 buck —the steed gallopped on—and he was left lying in the field. “(Q heaven, he is killed! he is killed!” was the wild ery that issued from Florina’s lips: and she sprang frantically towards the gate. “Do not be alarmed, dear Flo,” said Harold, COMMICLMOoOks (C (CO)