coverts with, and disappear under the auspices of, their papas or
their grooms when the work begins.

The lady who rides and demands assistance in truth becomes a
nuisance before the run is over, let her beauty be ever so
transcendent, her horsemanship ever- so perfect, and her battery
of general feminine artillery ever so powerful. She is like the
American woman, who is always wanting your place in a railway
carriage, and demanding it, too, without the slightest idea of
paying you for it with thanks; whose study it is to treat you as
though she ignored your existence while she is appropriating your
services. The hunting lady who demands assistance is very
particular about her gates, requiring that aid shall be given to
her with instant speed, but that the man who gives it shall never
allow himself to be hurried as he renders it. And she soon
becomes reproachful, oh, so soon ! It is marvellous to watch the
manner in which a hunting lady will become exacting, troublesome,
and at last imperious, deceived and spoilt by the attention
which she receives. She teaches herself to think at last that a
man is a brute who does not ride as though he were riding as her
servant, and that it becomes her to assume indignation if every
motion around her is not made with some reference to her safety,
to her comfort, or to her success. I have seen women look as
Furies look, and heard them speak as Furies are supposed to
speak, because men before them could not bury themselves and
their horses out of their way at a moment's notice, or because
some pulling animal would still assert himself while they were
there, and not sink into submission and dog-like obedience for
their behoof.