And Lizzie, instigated by jealousy, learned to ride as
hard, and as they rode against each other every day, there was a turmoil
in the hunt. Morgan, scratching his head, declared that he had known
"drunken rampaging men," but had never seen ladies so wicked. Lizzie did
come down rather badly at one wall, and Lucinda got herself jammed against
a gate-post. But when Christmas was come and gone, and Portray Castle had
been left empty, no very bad accident had occurred.
A great friendship had sprung up between Mrs. Carbuncle and Lizzie, so
that both had become very communicative. Whether both or either had been
candid may, perhaps, be doubted. Mrs. Carbuncle had been quite
confidential in discussing with her friend the dangerous varieties of
Lucinda's humours, and the dreadful aversion which she still seemed to
entertain for Sir Griffin. But then these humours and this aversion were
so visible, that they could not well be concealed; and what can be the use
of confidential communications if things are kept back which the
confidante would see even if they were not told?
"She would be just like that, whoever the man was," said Mrs.
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