Page:Adventures of Susan Hopley (Volume 1).pdf/38

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SUSAN HOPLEY.
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guardian and trustee for Harry. All this I do with Fanny's entire approbation."

How far these arrangements were agreeable to Mr. Gaveston may be doubted; but, at all events, he reiterated the assurances of his entire satisfaction; and Mr. Wentworth did not trouble himself to investigate further.

Mr. Gaveston's pursuits-riding, cricketing, sporting, and so forth-were naturally very attractive to Harry; and as he was a spirited boy, he was glad enough to be allowed to share in them whenever he was permitted. Mr. Gaveston seemed willing enough to encourage this disposition, and amongst other things he took upon himself to teach Harry to ride; but, on the plea that a boy should be afraid of nothing, he one day set him on a young horse of his own before the child had any seat, and allowed him to follow the hounds; the consequence of which was, that the horse ran away, and if Andrew, (who happening to see Harry start, had felt uneasy and gone after them to observe how he got on,) had not been at hand, and stopped the horse with one hand whilst he caught Harry with the other to break his fall, it would in all probability have proved the poor little fellow's first and last hunt. Mr. Gaveston charged Harry not to tell his uncle, "for," said he, "if

VOL. I.

c