“Very fond of it,” said Arabella who had been out two or three times in her life.

“I like a girl to ride to hounds,” said his lordship.  “I don’t think she ever looks so well.”  Then Arabella determined that come what might she would ride to hounds.

At Shugborough Springs a fox was found before half the field was up, and he broke almost as soon as he was found.  “Follow me through the hand gates,” said the lord, “and from the third field out it’s fair riding.  Let him have his head, and remember he hangs a moment as he comes to his fence.  You won’t be left behind unless there’s something out of the way to stop us.”  Arabella’s heart was in her mouth, but she was quite resolved.  Where he went she would follow.  As for being left behind she would not care the least for that if he were left behind with her.  They got well away, having to pause a moment while the hounds came up to Tony’s horn out of the wood.  Then there was plain sailing and there were very few before them.  “He’s one of the old sort, my lord,” said Tony as he pressed on, speaking of the fox.  “Not too near me, and you’ll go like a bird,” said his lordship.  “He’s a nice little horse, isn’t he?  When I’m going to be married, he’ll be the first present I shall make her.”

“He’d tempt almost any girl,” said Arabella.

It was wonderful how well she went, knowing so little about it as she did.  The horse was one easily ridden, and on plain ground she knew what she was about in a saddle.  At any rate she did not disgrace herself and when they had already run some three or four miles Lord Rufford had nearly the best of it and she had kept with him.  “You don’t know where you are I suppose,” he said when they came to a check.

“And I don’t in the least care, if they’d only go on,” said she eagerly.

“We’re back at Rufford Park.  We’ve left the road nearly a mile to our left, but there we are.  Those trees are the park.”

“But must we stop there?”

“That’s as the fox may choose to behave.  We shan’t stop unless he does.”  Then young Hampton came up, declaring that there was the very mischief going on between Major Caneback and Jemima.  According to Hampton’s account, the Major had been down three or four times, but was determined to break either the mare’s neck or her spirit.  He had been considerably hurt, so Hampton said, in one shoulder, but had insisted on riding on.  “That’s the worst of him,” said Lord Rufford.  “He never knows when to give up.”

Then the hounds were again on the scent and were running very fast towards the park.  “That’s a nasty ditch before us,” said the Lord.  “Come down a little to the left.  The hounds are heading that way, and there’s a gate.”  Young Hampton in the meantime was going straight for the fence.  “I’m not afraid,” said Arabella.

“Very well.  Give him his head and he’ll do it”

Just at that moment there was a noise behind them and the Major on Jemima rushed up.  She was covered with foam and he with dirt, and her sides were sliced with the spur.  His hat was crushed, and he was riding almost altogether with his right hand.  He came close to Arabella and she could see the rage in his face as the animal rushed on with her head almost between her knees.  “He’ll have another fall there,” said Lord Rufford.