“I suppose it’s all right,” said the Honourable1 Crasher, putting his horse into a canter, with the loose rein2 and easy off-hand seat peculiar3 to a gentleman riding to covert4.
Mr. Sawyer, following close in his wake, devoutly5 hoped it was so; but had little leisure for considering the subject, inasmuch as his energies were completely engrossed6 by the delicate task of gammoning The Dandy that he didn’t want to pull at him. He knew too well, by the way his little horse’s ears were laid back, that he was fully7 prepared, and only sought an excuse, to come with a rush at the shortest possible notice.
They went on pleasantly enough for a mile or so, the Honourable leading, and commencing a variety of courteous8 remarks to his follower9, which invariably broke off in the middle. At last, the former pulled up with an air of uncertainty10.
“Very odd,” he said; “often as I’ve come this way before, I never remember the gate locked.” He had put his whip confidently under the latch12, and his horse’s chest against the top, without the slightest effect. “’Pon my soul, it seems rather absurd, but I do believe we’ve lost our way.”
“We,” thought Mr. Sawyer; “and this fiend in top-boots laughs as if it were a joke!” but he only said aloud, “I shall get down and take it off its hinges.”
The Honourable’s reply was simple and conclusive13. He pointed14 to the upper hinge, craftily15 turned downwards16, so as effectually to prevent all tampering17 with it, and observed in a tone of melancholy18 apology, “The fence seems rather a bad one” (it was an “oxer,” about seven feet high, and impervious19 to a bird!). “Do you think your horse could get over the gate after mine? This is only a five-year-old, and very likely to break it,” he added, with the manner of a nurse tempting20 a child to take its dose.
I have said Mr. Sawyer was a brave man, and so he was; but I am bound to confess the proposition startled him not a little. Put yourself in his place, courteous reader, and say whether a foggy morning, an uninhabited country, and the necessity of riding a horse barely fourteen-two over a gate more than four feet high, after a languid desperado in pursuit of an uncertainty, was not a somewhat alarming contingency21. Nevertheless, there was nothing else for it. The Honourable turned his horse round, took him in a grasp of iron, and put him rather slowly at the gate, which the animal, a well-bred, raking-looking chestnut22, with a long bang-tail, got over exceedingly badly, striking the top bar with fore11 and hind23 legs; but neither disturbing the Honourable Crasher’s seat nor the imperturbability24 of his demeanour in the slightest degree. He looked back, however, to see his companion come, and even condescended25 to express a feeble approval of his performance, without removing the cigar from his mouth.
It is but justice to The Dandy to observe, that he no sooner obtained “the office” from his rider, and saw what was expected of him, than he cocked his ears, took the bit in his teeth, and bounded over the gate like a buck26, indemnifying himself for the effort, by breaking clean away with his rider as soon as he landed, and going by the Honourable Crasher and his chestnut like a flash of lightning.
I have often observed that the blood of a languid person, if once he or she gets it “up,” boils more fervidly27 than that of less peaceful temperaments28; perhaps it is altogether a thicker fluid, and consequently more retentive29 of caloric. Be this as it may, no sooner did the Honourable Crasher behold30 Mr. Sawyer speeding by him like an express train, than, roused by the example, and further stimulated31 by the insubordination of the chestnut, he sat well down in the saddle; and, taking his horse by the head, soon caught up and passed the astonished Sawyer, merely remarking, “We’ve got a little out of the line; you seem to be riding a good fencer, and had better follow me!” and then proceeded to lead his victim perfectly32 straight across country, in the direction of Tilton Wood; the fog, too, was by this time clearing off considerably33, or it might be they had emerged from the region of its influence, and the stranger had not even the advantage of its friendly veil to hide from him the dangers by which he was encompassed34.
To this day Mr. Sawyer has not left off talking about this his first ride over High Leicestershire. After a bottle of port, he even becomes heterodox for so good a sportsman, and vows35 he would rather gallop36 to covert over those grass-fields, than see a run in any other country in the world. I have my doubts, however, whether he enjoyed it so very much at the time. Jack37 put him down twice; first at an ox-fence, of which the rail was from him, and which, although his leader hit it very hard, deluded38 the unsuspecting Dandy; and secondly39, by landing on a covered drain, which gave way with him, and superinduced one of those falls that are generally designated “collar-boners.” On this occasion the Honourable Crasher brought him back his horse, with quite a radiant expression of countenance40.
“What a good little animal it is!” said he, throwing the reins41 back over its neck. “I’m trying to ‘crop’ this beggar of mine, and I very soon should, if I had to follow you.”
In effect, the chestnut’s head and bridle-band were plastered over with mud, although his rider’s coat was as yet unstained.
At Skeffington, they relapsed into a quiet trot42, and rode on together, feeling as if they could hardly realise the fact, that twenty-four hours ago they were utter strangers to each other.
It is odd how people cast up at a meet of fox-hounds, from all sorts of different directions, even on the most unpromising mornings. Though the fog was as thick as ever at the top of the hill, and Tilton Wood, at no time the best of places to “get away from,” was perfectly invisible at two hundred yards’ distance, there was already a good sprinkling of sportsmen assembled at the fixture43. Two or three “swells” from Melton, very much the pattern of the Honourable Crasher, had arrived on their smoking hacks44, and were greeted by him with considerable cordiality. Truth to tell, the Honourable dearly loved what he called “a customer,” meaning simply an individual who was fool enough to rate his neck at the value he did his own; and, indeed, he never would have taken so affably to Mr. Sawyer, on such short notice, had the latter not been fortunate enough to possess an excellent hack45 hunter in Jack-a-Dandy, and bold enough to make very free use of that jumping little animal; the hounds, too, had already arrived, and in the glimpse which Mr. Sawyer caught of them as he rode up, he was sportsman enough to remark that they looked speedy, stout46, level, and uncommonly47 fit to go. Such a pack, he thought, would not even have disgraced the Old Country! the huntsman also seemed to afford the happy combination of a riding as well as a hunting one; and the other servants were remarkably48 well mounted, and looked like business. Mr. Sawyer began to feel quite keen, and to look about for Isaac and the grey, who had not made their appearance; the other Harborough hunters, however, had not yet come up; their grooms49 had, probably, taken the chance of a late meet to refresh in a body somewhere on the road; there was nothing for it but to light a cigar, and wait patiently for more daylight.
Two or three clever-looking horses with side-saddles, denoted that if the weather had been more propitious51, the same number of fair equestrians52 would have graced the field. Mr. Sawyer particularly remarked a very neat chestnut, apparently53, like the groom50 who led it, exceedingly loath54 to be ordered home. A peremptory55 gentleman, in particularly good boots and breeches, with a clerical white neckcloth, and black coat, who had just arrived on wheels, seemed to be the proprietor56 of this shapely animal. Mr. Sawyer caught himself vaguely57 wondering whether it belonged to his wife or daughter, and laughed at his own preoccupation as he thought, “What could it signify to him?”
It is very tiresome58 work, that waiting for a fog to clear off before hounds are put into covert. In all other anti-hunting weather, you know, to a certain extent, what you are about; the frost, that sent you to look at the thermometer last night before you went to bed, is either all gone by twelve o’clock, or the matter is set at rest the other way, and you make up your mind not to hunt again till the moon changes. It is the same thing with snow; and, moreover, if you can hunt on the surface of mother earth when wrapped in her spotless shroud59, she rewards you by carrying a capital scent60. But in a fog everything is uncertain and obscure; it may clear off in ten minutes, or it may not be so dense61 elsewhere. It seems a pity to go home, when the very signal for a return may herald62 a change of weather; and yet it is a melancholy amusement to walk hounds and horses round a wet field till far on in the afternoon. Everybody is of a different opinion too, usually regulated by personal convenience; those who live a long way off are all for having a try, whilst the man who has ridden his hunter a mile or two to the place of meeting, and can keep him fresh for next day, opines that “It is madness—folly—you’ll disturb your country—you’ll lose your hounds—you might as well go out hunting in the middle of the night,” &c.
On the present occasion it was obvious that the day was getting worse. Sheets of mist came driving up the valleys, and wreathing round the crests63 of the wooded hills; the slight breeze seemed but to bring up fresh relays of vapour, and every visible object, trees, hedges, gates—nay64, the very ears of the horses, and whiskers of their riders, were dripping and saturated65 with moisture. The Master of the Hounds, a thorough sportsman, never to be beaten by a difficulty, announced his intention of waiting whilst any one else remained; but it soon appeared that ere long he would have the field to himself. The Melton gentlemen lost no time in galloping66 home on their hacks, to while away the hours till dinner-time with a “smoking rubber.” Half-a-dozen yeomen adjourned67 to a neighbouring farm-house to have what they called “a snack” and drink a goodly allowance of port and sherry in the middle of the day. Even the clerical gentleman, owner of the chestnut ladies’-horse, thought it wouldn’t do; and just as Isaac on the grey turned up at the head of a strong detachment from Harborough, with whom he had fortunately fallen in, after losing his way twice, it was finally decided68 that the hounds should go home, and the day’s hunting be given up.
Warmed by his ride to covert, and hopeless of finding his way back, except in the same company, Mr. Sawyer lost no time in exchanging The Dandy for the grey. “If we are to lark69 home,” he thought, “I may as well ride a nag70 I can trust; but if ever I pin my faith upon one of these thin-booted gentlemen to show me the way again, why, I shall deserve the worst that can happen to me—that’s all!”
Now, although the appearance of a stranger does not create such a sensation in Leicestershire as in more remote countries, yet the Honourable Crasher was so well known, that it was natural some inquiries71 should be made as to his companion; for the Honourable C., who was thoroughly72 good-natured, had no sooner fraternised with our friend than he began to consider him in some sort, and in his own off-hand way, as under his especial charge. Mr. Sawyer’s exterior73, too, although not extraordinarily74 prepossessing, was undoubtedly75 workmanlike. As he settled himself in the grey’s saddle, and altered the stirrups which Isaac could never be persuaded to pull to the same length, the clerical gentleman ranging alongside of the Honourable whispered to the latter:
“Who’s that fellow? Is he staying with you at Harborough?”
The Honourable laughed feebly.
“Don’t know him from Adam,” he replied, as if there could be any connection between the two. “He don’t seem half a bad fellow, though,” he added, “and I shouldn’t wonder if he could ride.”
Now, the clerical gentleman, who was, indeed, no other than the well-known Parson Dove, had struck up a firm alliance with the Honourable Crasher, cemented on both sides by a keen love for fox-hunting, or perhaps I should rather say, for galloping and jumping over a country—the Parson, be it observed, being the best sportsman of the two. On an occasion like the present, he hoped to secure his friend’s company at luncheon76, by which stroke of policy he should please Mrs. Dove, who was not unprepared, and also show him a certain four-year-old, by which the Reverend set great store. Nay, it was by no means impossible that the Honourable, who never missed a chance of placing his neck in jeopardy77, or the stranger who looked hard, might be induced to buy the animal for purposes of tuition. So he ignored all about Adam, and simply said, “It’s not a quarter of a mile out of your way to stop at the Rectory; indeed, you go by my stableyard. Won’t you and your friend come in and have a glass of sherry and a biscuit?”
Mr. Sawyer was a man who had no objection to a glass of sherry and a biscuit at any time, let alone such a cheerless day as this. The hospitable78 offer, too, was made in so loud a voice that he could not but accept it as addressed to himself; so he drew his horse back to the speaker, and thanked him for the offer, which he expressed his willingness to accept. The Honourable Crasher perceiving that he had been led into the virtual introduction of a man whose name he didn’t know, put a bold face on the matter, devoutly hoping the patronymic might never be asked, and the three turned in at a hand-gate, and jogged on amicably79 through the fog, in the direction of the Rectory.
As Mr. Sawyer ran his eye over the person and appointments of his future host, he could not but acknowledge to himself that never, no, never in his life had he seen such a thoroughly workmanlike exterior: from the clean-shaved ruddy face, with its bright-blue eye and close-cropped grey hair, down to the long heavy hunting-spurs, the man was faultless all over. Nobody’s leathers were so well made, so well cleaned, so well put on as Parson Dove’s; and, though he affected80 brown tops, it is well known that they were such unequalled specimens81 as to have caused one of his intimate friends who particularly piqued82 himself on “boots,” to give up all hope, even of imitation, and relapse into “Napoleons” in disgust. Why, the very way he folded his neckcloth was suggestive of Newmarket, and no scarlet83 coat that was ever turned out by Poole looked so like hunting as that well-cut unassuming black. His open-flapped saddle, his shining stirrup-irons, his heavy double-bridle, were all in keeping with the man himself, and it is needless to state that he was riding a thorough-bred bay, with a pair of fired forelegs, and about the best shoulders you ever saw on a hunter.
All this Mr. Sawyer had time to observe ere they rode into a neatly-bricked stableyard, where they gave their horses to a couple of smart grooms, and followed the owner through the back door, past the cleanest of kitchens and tidiest of sculleries, into the more aristocratic part of the mansion84.
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1
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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covert
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| adj.隐藏的；暗地里的 | |
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devoutly
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| adv.虔诚地，虔敬地，衷心地 | |
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engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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follower
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| n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒 | |
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uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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latch
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| n.门闩，窗闩；弹簧锁 | |
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conclusive
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| adj.最后的，结论的；确凿的，消除怀疑的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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craftily
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| 狡猾地，狡诈地 | |
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downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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tampering
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| v.窜改( tamper的现在分词 )；篡改；（用不正当手段）影响；瞎摆弄 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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impervious
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| adj.不能渗透的，不能穿过的，不易伤害的 | |
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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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contingency
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| n.意外事件，可能性 | |
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chestnut
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| n.栗树，栗子 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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imperturbability
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| n.冷静；沉着 | |
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condescended
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| 屈尊，俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲 | |
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buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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fervidly
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| adv.热情地，激情地 | |
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temperaments
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| 性格( temperament的名词复数 )； （人或动物的）气质； 易冲动； （性情）暴躁 | |
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retentive
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| v.保留的，有记忆的；adv.有记性地，记性强地；n.保持力 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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stimulated
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| a.刺激的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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encompassed
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| v.围绕( encompass的过去式和过去分词 )；包围；包含；包括 | |
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vows
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| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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deluded
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| v.欺骗，哄骗( delude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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secondly
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| adv.第二，其次 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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42
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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43
fixture
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| n.固定设备；预定日期；比赛时间；定期存款 | |
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hacks
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| 黑客 | |
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hack
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| n.劈，砍，出租马车；v.劈，砍，干咳 | |
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47
uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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49
grooms
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| n.新郎( groom的名词复数 )；马夫v.照料或梳洗（马等）( groom的第三人称单数 )；使做好准备；训练；（给动物）擦洗 | |
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50
groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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51
propitious
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| adj.吉利的；顺利的 | |
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52
equestrians
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| n.骑手（equestrian的复数形式） | |
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53
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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54
loath
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| adj.不愿意的；勉强的 | |
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55
peremptory
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| adj.紧急的，专横的，断然的 | |
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proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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shroud
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| n.裹尸布，寿衣；罩，幕；vt.覆盖，隐藏 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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herald
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| vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎 | |
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crests
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| v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的第三人称单数 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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saturated
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| a.饱和的，充满的 | |
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66
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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67
adjourned
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| （使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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69
lark
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| n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏 | |
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70
nag
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| v.(对…)不停地唠叨；n.爱唠叨的人 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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72
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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73
exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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extraordinarily
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| adv.格外地；极端地 | |
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75
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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76
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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77
jeopardy
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| n.危险；危难 | |
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78
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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79
amicably
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| adv.友善地 | |
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80
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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81
specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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82
piqued
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| v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的过去式和过去分词 )；激起（好奇心） | |
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83
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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