ght I ask you not to come too near me?"
If she could only have heard the remarks to which this constant little
request of hers gave rise. She is now the mother of children, and her
hunting days are gone, and probably she never makes that little request.
Doubtless that look, made up partly of offence and partly of female
dignity, no longer clouds her brow. But I fancy that they who knew her
of old in the hunting field never approach her now without fancying that
they hear those reproachful words, and see that powerful look of injured
feminine weakness.

But there is the hunting lady who rides hard and never asks for
assistance. Perhaps I may be allowed to explain to embryo Dianas, to the
growing huntresses of the present age, that she who rides and makes
no demand receives attention as close as is ever given to her more
imperious sister. And how welcome she is! What a grace she lends to
the day's sport! How pleasant it is to see her in her pride of place,
achieving her mastery over the difficulties in her way by her own wit,
as all men, and all women also, must really do who intend to ride to
hounds; and doing it all without any sign that the difficulties are too
great for her!

The lady who rides like this is in truth seldom in the way. I have heard
men declare that they would never wish to see a side-saddle in the field
because women are troublesome, and because they must be treated with
attention let the press of the moment be ever so instant. From this I
dissent altogether. The small amount of courtesy that is needed is more
than atoned for by the grace of her presence, and in fact produces no
more impediment in the hunting-field than in other scenes of life.
But in the hunting-field, as in other scenes, let assistance never be
demanded by a woman. If the lady finds that she cannot keep a place in
the first flight without such demands on the patience of those around
her, let her acknowledge to herself that the attempt is not in her line,
and that it should be abandoned. If it be the ambition of a hunting lady
to ride straight, and women have very much of this ambition, let her use
her eyes but never her voice; and let her ever have a smile for those
who help her in her little difficulties. Let her never ask any one "to
take care of that gate," or look as though she expected the profane
crowd to keep aloof from her. So shall she win the hearts of those
around her, and go safely through brake and brier, over ditch and