'Yes; and, when I last saw her and dear little Netty, their victoria was wedged between a drag and a tax-cart. I do hope they escaped without harm.' 'I hope so, too, for she is a very charming woman. And you found Cadbury duly waiting at Salthill with his horses?' 'Yes; and Gaskins came here to get mine.' 'I hope you duly thanked Cadbury.' 'Of course, papa.' 'But why did he not make an effort to escort you home?' asked Sir Ranald, whom this point interested. 'I missed him in the running, as I said, papa,' replied Alison, colouring now. 'He is so slow at his fences.' 'Slow; he has the reputation of generally riding faster than his horse,' said Sir Ranald, who was unable to repress a joke at the _parvenu_ peer, whom he was not without quiet hopes of having for a son-in-law. 'Then, I suppose, Captain Goring was your escort for most of the day?' 'Yes,' replied Alison, frankly. 'In fact, I may presume that you and he were always neck-and-neck; taking your fences together, and all that sort of thing?' 'Oh, no, papa; certainly not,' replied Alison, thinking it was unwise to admit too much, though her father's surmises were very near the truth. 'I am astonished that Cadbury did not make an effort to join you.' 'I never saw him after the hounds threw off,' said Alison, a little wearily, as she knew how her father's secret thoughts were tending. 'Did you look for him?' 'No.' 'So--so--this is exactly what happened before.' 'Can I help it, papa, if his wont is to fail at the first fence?' 'You can help Captain Goring so opportunely taking his place.' 'I do not quite see what his place is; but oh, papa, what do you think? Capt. Goring heard of poor Ellon in India--he actually laid him in his grave, if one may say so!' 'How?' 'He commanded the soldiers who fired over it.' 'Indeed!' said Sir Ranald, with some interest now. She was about to mention the proffered ring, which she deemed a precious relic, when her father said with a tone of some gravity, and even crustily-- 'I don't much like your following the hounds, and think you must give it up.' 'Oh, it is delightful; and if I had a horse of my own----' 'There you go!' exclaimed her father, with a petty gush of irritation; 'I don't like it! Think how a girl looks in an October morning at a cover-side, her eyes watering, perhaps her nose red, and her cheeks blue, and after a while, perhaps, with her hat smashed, her habit torn, her hair hanging down her back, and some fellow fagging by her side drearily when he wishes her at the devil; or think of her learning to talk of curbs and spavins, hocks, stifle, and thoroughpin, like the gentleman jockey of a dragoon corps.' 'Oh, you dear old thing!' exclaimed Alison, caressing him and laughing, though she knew that his irritation was caused only by her having permitted Bevil Goring to take the place of her elderly and titled admirer. 'I have so little amusement here at Chilcote, papa, that I did not think you would grudge me----'