Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 19: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

2 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ‘““My dear aunt,” interrupted Staunton, ‘‘ and you also, Florina, I cannot possibly listen to your fears; or, rather, you must permit me to tell you both that they are quite un- founded. Have I not been out hunting alone? Did I not ride at the celebrated Dunchurch steeplechase? ”’ ‘But, my lord,’’? said Lady Saxondale, with an air of erave remonstrance, “I think that your aunt and dear Flo have given you most excellent advice, and if you will allow me to add the weight of mine, I must beg that you think no more of riding Mr. Hawkshaw’s horse, — at least, not for the purpose of taking any desperate leaps.”’ “ What does Mr. Hawkshaw himself say? ”’ 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 cannot think of permitting even you to try the feat.”’ ‘““ Danger, my dear Miss Farefield! ’’ exclaimed the squire, at the same time rewarding her with a look 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, “‘ toward yonder 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 Gomichbooks (E(0)