CHAPTER IV.
THE HUNT.
Although we had not the advantages of a southerly wind and cloudy sky, the day towards noon became strongly over-cast, and promised to afford us good scenting weather; and as we assembled at the meet, mutual congratulations were exchanged upon the improved appearance of the day.

Young Blake had provided Miss Dashwood with a quiet and well-trained horse, and his sisters were all mounted as usual upon their own animals, giving to our turnout quite a gay and lively aspect.

I myself came to cover upon a hackney, having sent Badger with a groom, and longed ardently for the moment when, casting the skin of my great-coat and overalls, I should appear before the world in my well-appointed "cords and tops." Captain Hammersley had not as yet made his appearance, and many conjectures were afloat as to whether "he might have missed the road, or changed his mind," or "forgot all about it," as Miss Dashwood hinted.
"Who, pray, pitched upon this cover ?" said Caroline Blake, as she looked with a practised eye over the country on either side.
"There is no chance of a fox late in the day at the Mill," said the huntsman, inventing a lie for the occasion.
"Then of course you never intend us to see much of the sport; for after you break cover, you are entirely lost to us." "I thought you always followed the hounds," said Miss Dashwood, timidly.
"Oh, to be sure we do, in any common country, but here it is out of the question; the fences are too large for any one, and if I am not mistaken, these gentlemen will not ride far over this.

There, look yonder, where the river is rushing down the hill: that stream, widening as it advances, crosses the cover nearly midway,--well, they must clear that; and then you may see these walls of large loose stones nearly five feet in height.

That is the usual course the fox takes, unless he heads towards the hills and goes towards Dangan, and then there's an end of it; for the deer-park wall is usually a pull up to every one except, perhaps, to our friend Charley yonder, who has tried his fortune against drowning more than once there." "Look, here he comes," said Matthew Blake, "and looking splendidly too,--a little too much in flesh perhaps, if anything." "Captain Hammersley!" said the four Miss Blakes, in a breath.