If it be the ambition of a hunting lady to ride straight, and
women have very much of this ambition, let her use her eyes but
never her voice; and let her ever have a smile for those who help
her in her little difficulties. Let her never ask any one " to
take care of that gate," or look as though she expected the
profane crowd to keep aloof from her. So shall she win the hearts
of those around her, and go safely through brake and brier, over
ditch and dyke, and meet with a score of knights around her who
will be willing and able to give her eager aid should the chance
of any moment require it.
There are two accusations which the more demure portion of the
world is apt to advance against hunting ladies, or, as I should
better say, against hunting as an amusement for ladies. It leads
to flirting, they say, to flirting of a sort which mothers would
not approve; and it leads to fast habits, to ways and thoughts
which are of the horse horsey, and of the stable, strongly
tinged with the rack and manger. The first of these accusations
is, I think, simply made in ignorance. As girls are brought up
among us now-a-days, they may all flirt, if they have a mind to
do so; and opportunities for flirting are much better and much
more commodious in the ball-room, in the drawing-room, or in the
park, than they are in the hunting-field.
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