e adjoining
pasture, went off again at score--not a soul _really_ with them.

"Flesh and blood can't stand this!" exclaimed Mrs. Lumley as, turning
the Gitana short round at a high stile with a foot-board, she landed
lightly in the field. "Don't attempt it, Kate!" she screamed out to
me, half turning in her saddle. I heard John's voice too, raised in
expostulation, but it was too late. I was already in the air. I
thought Brilliant never would come to the ground; and when he did
touch it, he was so excited with his previous restraint and his
present position, that he broke clean away with me. I was a little
frightened, but I never lost my nerve. I flew past Mrs. Lumley like an
arrow; and though she put the Gitana to her speed, and made my horse
more violent still as she thundered close upon his quarters, I was too
proud to ask her to give me a pull, and a wicked, jealous feeling rose
in my heart that was an excellent substitute for true courage at the
time. My horse was almost frantic; but fortunately he knew my voice,
and by speaking to him I was able to steady him before we reached the
fence. He bounded over it like a deer, and went quite quietly, now
that he had nothing before him but the hounds. I had never known till
now what it was to ride for myself. Hitherto I had always followed a
leader, but henceforth I resolved to enjoy the true pleasure of
finding my own way. I looked back. I was positively _first_, but Mrs.
Lumley was not fifty yards behind me, and coming up rapidly.

"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_
coul