Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 21: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

4 REYNOLDS’ WORKS of his eyes told a tale satisfactory. enough to the intriguing and selfish Miss Farefield. Taking a proper distance, but with the unconcern and fearlessness of a man who knew perfectly well what his horse could do, and what he himself might in all safety venture, Squire Hawkshaw galloped the steed at the gate and cleared it in the most beautiful style, to the admiration of those who beheld him. Cantering into the middle of the field on the other side of the park railings, he wheeled the horse around, galloped it back again at the gate, and leaped over in the same admirable manner as before. ‘“ There,” he said, springing from the steed as he reached the spot where the ladies had remained standing with Lord Harold, ‘“‘ you see that anything can be done with this horse.” “Then I am sure that I need not fear to venture,” said the young nobleman, and he advanced to take the bridle from the squire’s hand. ‘“ No, Harold,” cried Florina, ‘‘ do not, I beseech you, do not! ”’ But by the time she had uttered these words her brother had sprung upon the horse, and galloping away, he made a wide circuit, not only to settle himself upon the animal’s back and try its paces for himself, but also to convince the squire that he was no mean equestrian. “Your ladyship need fear nothing,” said Mr. Hawkshaw, addressing himself to Florina, “‘ for your brother is quite capable of doing with that horse whatsoever I can do.” ‘But you are such a superb rider,’’ remarked Juliana, in an undertone, accompanying her compliment with a tender look. ‘Lord Harold is as good as I am,”’ returned the squire, surveying Staunton’s equestrian performance with the eye of a connoisseur. “ See, he is going to take the gate. Stand back a little. Pray, don’t be afraid, ladies. I can assure you he is all safe. It is perfectly right, he knows what he is about. Why, he sits upon the back of that horse as if he formed part of it. There, away he goes! ”’ And away Lord Harold did go, clearing the gate in as fine a style as Mr. Hawkshaw had already twice done. But all in an instant shrieks burst forth from the ladies, and an ejaculation of alarm from the squire, for scarcely had Gomilecbooks (E(0)