“Just so,” added Mr. Woodburn; “but Mr. Wire goes further. He had a great deal to say on the mischievous modes of modern dress, on ladies’ stays, and even on garters. ‘All tight ligatures,’ he says, ‘impede the circulation of the blood, and injure the constitution.’ He pulled up his loose trowsers, and showed me that he wore short socks, and thus avoided the necessity for garters.” Mr. Woodburn found much wisdom in what the public of Castleborough then set down as whims; but we know that Mr. Wire’s philosophy has now become extensively adopted. At that day he stood alone in it, in all its branches. This conversation was not terminated when Miss Heritage and Miss Drury were seen coming up the front garden in their riding-habits. They were received with great gladness. Miss Heritage had lost the appearance of the Friend, for she wore a black hat with her dark habit; and both she and her friend looked fascinating. They were going an early ride, and wanted the young ladies to join them. They not only accepted the invitation joyfully, but George volunteered his company, and went out to see about the horses. The whole Woodburn family were charmed with Miss Drury. There was something so bright and frank in her manner and intelligent countenance; her voice had an animating tone in it. She was, moreover, so much at home in all the affairs of a farm; though, unlike Mrs. Woodburn, she did not take any part in the actual economy of the dairy; could neither make a cheese nor mould a pound of butter, her father having had her educated exclusively as a lady to preside in a house, and not to partake in its professional labours, yet she knew all that belonged to the whole business of farm-life. She talked with Mrs. Woodburn of all matters within and without doors, and could give to Mr. Woodburn a most perfect idea of the style and routine of cultivation in the West Riding of Yorkshire, describe the cereals which flourished most there, the advantages of stall feeding, the particular character and value of stock there. Mr. Woodburn was delighted, and said he should inflict on her a walk through his farm one of these days, and enlighten himself by her opinions. Elizabeth Drury said she should enjoy such a walk greatly. All kinds of country life had attractions for her: even hunting; and she not unfrequently followed Lord Faversham’s hounds with her father. George announced the horses at the door; and the little cavalcade was soon in the saddle. Sylvanus Crook, who had been the two ladies’ groom so far, returned home, and George Woodburn took charge of the whole party. It was a beautiful sight to see those four lovely women and the manly George Woodburn ascending the road from the house, and then, breaking into a canter, disappear beneath the trees at the turn of the road under the sand-cliffs. “Nothing like youth, my dear,” said Mr. Woodburn to his wife, as they turned into the house.