mount him, was only
deferring the ridicule; and as I had so often expressed the difficulty
I felt in suiting myself as a cause of my delay, I could not possibly
come forward with anything very objectionable, or I should be only the
more laughed at. There was, then, but one course to take; a fortnight
still intervened before the day which was to make me happy, and I
accordingly resolved to take lessons in riding during the interval, and
by every endeavor in my power become, if possible, able to pass muster
on the saddle before my bride.

"Poor old Lalouette understood but little of the urgency of the case,
when I requested his leave to take my lessons each morning at six
o'clock, for I dared not absent myself during the day without exciting
suspicion; and never, I will venture to assert, did knight-errant of
old strive harder for the hand of his lady-love than did I during that
weary fortnight; if a hippogriff had been the animal I bestrode,
instead of being, as it was, an old wall-eyed gray, I could not have
felt more misgivings at my temerity, or more proud of my achievement.
In the first three days the unaccustomed exercise proved so severe,
that when I reached the deanery I could hardly move, and crossed the
floor pretty much as a pair of compasses might be supposed to do if
performing that exploit. Nothing, however, could equal the kindness of
my poor dear mother-in-law in embryo, and even the dean too. Fanny
indeed, said nothing; but I rather think she was disposed to giggle a
little; but my rheumatism, as it was called, was daily inquired after,
and I was compelled to take some infernal stuff in my port wine, at
dinner, that nearly made me sick at table.

"'I am sure you walk too much,' said Fanny, with one of her knowing
looks. 'Papa, don't you think he ought to ride? it would be much
better for him.'

"'I do, my dear,' said the dean. 'But then you see he is so hard to be
pleased in a horse. Your old hunting days have spoiled you; but you
must forget Melton and Grantham, and condescend to keep a hack.'

"I must have looked confoundedly foolish here, for Fanny never took her
eyes off me, and continued to laugh in her own wicked way.

"It was now about the ninth or tenth day of my purgatorial
performances; and certainly, if there be any merit in fleshly
mortifications, these religious exercises of mine should stand my part
hereafter. A review had been announced in the Phoenix park, which
Fanny had ex