"Well done, Kate!" said she as we flew our third fence side by side. Still the hounds fleeted on, and I never took my eye off them, but urged my horse in their wake, taking every turn they did, and swerving from nothing. Fortunately, Brilliant was thoroughbred and the fences light, or, even with my weight, such a style of riding must soon have produced fatal results. I shall never go again as well as I did that day; but do what I would I could not shake off Mrs. Lumley. If I lost sight of her for an instant, she was sure to gain a turn upon me, and on one or two occasions she was actually in my front. I felt I could have ridden into a chalk pit, and _dared_ her to follow me with the greatest satisfaction. At last the hounds checked; we stood alone with them; I felt almost delirious with the excitement. "What an example we have made of _the gentlemen_, Kate," said Mrs. Lumley, turning the Gitana's head to the wind. "I had no idea _you_ could ride like this." I did not answer, but I thought "Wait a little, and I'll show you." I felt I _hated_ her, though she _was_ my friend. Again the hounds stooped to the scent; they crossed a deep narrow lane, up which I saw the crowd advancing. I put my horse into his pace. "You can't go there, Kate," vociferated Mrs. Lumley. "This way; here's a gate in this corner." I clenched my teeth, and rode straight for the fence. It looked dark and forbidding. I did not see _how_ it was to be done, but I trusted to Brilliant, and Brilliant nearly did it--but _not quite_. There was a loud crash; one of my pommels gave me an awkward dig in the side. I saw the white star on my horse's forehead shoot below me; and the muddy, gravelly lane seemed to rise in my face and rasp my hands and smear my habit, and get conglomerated with my hair. The horsemen were all round me when I got up. I did not care for my accident; I did not care for being bruised--in fact, I did not know whether I was hurt or not--but my prevailing feeling was one of burning shame and horror as I thought of my dress. To have had a fall amongst all those men! I could have sunk into the earth and thanked it for covering me. But there was no lack of sympathy and assistance. The huntsman pulled up; the noble Master offered me his carriage to go back to London; everybody stopped to tender advice and condolences. "The lady's had a fall."--"Give the lady some sherry."--"Catch the lady's horse."--"Can we render the lady any assistance?" John, of course, was much distressed and annoyed, but glad to find I was not seriously hurt. Mrs. Lumley only stood aloof and sneered. "I told you not to ride there, Kate," said she; "and what a fall you've had--amongst all these people, too!" She very nearly made me an enemy for life.