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Before Harriet knew it, she and Hugo had taken a flying jump over a low hedge with several of the field and were heading for a set of rails.  Harriet brought Atalanta up to the jump too close to the horse ahead.  A clod of earth flew up into her face.  Atalanta checked momentarily, losing momentum, and tried a cat jump which took her lopsided over the rails, depositing Harriet in a ditch.  She hung on to the reins, was dragged on for a few paces at a run, then managed to lead Atalanta to one side, scramble up again and canter on without causing any commotion, covered with mud from head to foot.

Hugo came galloping up anxiously, having judged the rails too high for Paintbox and found a gate.  Antonia and Vivian came flying past them and as Hugo and Harriet followed they passed Rodney on one side of a fence exhorting Abby, on the other, to jump her pony out of an impenetrable spinney into which she had rashly jumped.  Abby had lost her nerve and was weeping quietly.

"Come on," said Hugo fiercely, "pretend we haven't seen."

"Hunting's very hard on nervous kids," said Harriet, as they went on.  Hugo shrugged.  "It's very character-building," he corrected and grinned at her as they looked back and saw Abby wreathed in smiles trotting after them beside her father, who was smiling down at her and applauding.