When on a sudden
the hounds were on a fox. It turned out afterwards that Dick
Rabbit had absolutely ridden him up among the stubble, and that
the hounds had nearly killed him before he had gone a yard. But
the astute animal making the best use of his legs till he could
get the advantage of the first ditch, ran, and crept, and jumped
absolutely through the pack. Then there was shouting, and yelling,
and riding. The men who were idly smoking threw away their cigars.
Those who were loitering at a distance lost their chance. But the
real sportsmen, always on the alert, always thinking of the
business in hand, always mindful that there may be at any moment a
fox just before the hounds, had a glorious opportunity of getting
'well away'. Among these no one was more intent, or, when the
moment came, 'better away' than Mrs Spooner.
Silverbridge had been talking to her and had the full advantage of
her care. Tregear was riding behind with Lord Chiltern, who had
been pressing him to come with his friend to Harrington. As soon
as the shouting was heard Chiltern was off like a rocket.
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