In the last particular he was disappointed.

After beating in vain for the greater part of the morning, a fox was at length found, who led us a chase of two hours, in the course of which, notwithstanding the ill-omened French binding upon my hat, I sustained my character as a horseman to the admiration of my uncle and Miss Vernon, and the secret disappointment of those who expected me to disgrace it.

Reynard, however, proved too wily for his pursuers, and the hounds were at fault.

I could at this time observe in Miss Vernon's manner an impatience of the close attendance which we received from Thorncliff Osbaldistone; and, as that active-spirited young lady never hesitated at taking the readiest means to gratify any wish of the moment, she said to him, in a tone of reproach--"I wonder, Thornie, what keeps you dangling at my horse's crupper all this morning, when you know the earths above Woolverton-mill are not stopt." "I know no such an thing then, Miss Die, for the miller swore himself as black as night, that he stopt them at twelve o'clock midnight that was." "O fie upon you, Thornie! would you trust to a miller's word ?--and these earths, too, where we lost the fox three times this season! and you on your grey mare, that can gallop there and back in ten minutes!" "Well, Miss Die, I'se go to Woolverton then, and if the earths are not stopt, I'se raddle Dick the miller's bones for him." "Do, my dear Thornie; horsewhip the rascal to purpose--via--fly away, and about it;"-- Thorncliff went off at the gallop--"or get horsewhipt yourself, which will serve my purpose just as well .-- I must teach them all discipline and obedience to the word of command.

I am raising a regiment, you must know.