Page:A hairdresser's experience in high life.djvu/33

Rh but the noble animal which now protected us, divested us of all fear.

The next day was "Hallow Eve," and large parties came up from London to ride steeple-chases. I was very anxious to see these steeple-chases, as I had often heard of the daring feats of horsemanship displayed in them; of the exciting races over the fields, and terrible leaps over walls and ditches, and the excitement always created by them; but, when I came to see the reality, I was not a little disappointed—the gentlemen did the racing, but the valets did the ditch jumping. Sometimes horse, rider, and all, fell into the ditch, and it was a miracle if arms, legs and necks were not broken in the leaps. This amusement was, generally, carried on outside the parks, where large crowds of people assembled to witness it, which I found was rather a dangerous thing, for upon these occasions, the steeple-chasers have the privilege of riding over everything and every body, and, for my part, I was for getting out of their way. Hallow Eve night is devoted to various innocent amusements, by old and young, rich and poor. Prince and peasant hold a jubilee together—the children burn nuts to find out whether their future partners will be ill-natured or good-natured, count apple seeds, and try all manner of charms; the servants have their feasts in the halls; the nobility open their grandest drawing rooms; and every sort of fun is sanctioned on "Hallow Eve;" but good bye to that pleasant "Hallow Eve," I never expect to witness anything like it again.

My young lady was a fine horsewoman, and sometimes joined in the deer hunts. She asked me if I would like to witness one? I thanked her, and after