h pleasure,
"wasn't that beautiful? Why, I had no idea the child could ride like
that, had you? I never knew what riding was before."

Rita tried to look contemptuous, but the look was not a success. "A
gentlewoman does not require to ride like a stable-boy!" was all she
said. She was evidently out of humour, so Margaret was silent, only
watching the hill, to see when the pair would come galloping back over
the brow.

Here they were! Peggy was waving her hand--her hat had flown off at the
first caracole, and Rita had ridden over it several times--and shouting
in jubilation. Her hair flew loose over her shoulders, her short skirt
was blown about in every direction, but her eyes were so bright, her
face so rosy and joyous, that she was a pleasant sight to see, as,
leaping the fence, she came sweeping along over the meadow.

"Hail!" cried Margaret, when she came within hearing. "Hail, daughter of
Chiron! gloriously ridden, O youthful Centauress!"

Peggy did not know who Chiron was, but she caught the approving sound of
the words, and waved her hand. "Come on, Rita!" she cried. "Take the
Eagle over the fence! It's great fun. I'm going to try standing up in a
minute, when he is a little more used to me."

They set off at an easy gallop, and White Eagle took the fence well
enough, though it was his first, and he was no colt, like the black.
Then they circled round and round the meadow, sometimes neck and neck,
sometimes one far in advance. Generally it was Peggy, for the black was
far the swifter animal of the two; but now and then she pulled him in,
like the good-natured girl she was, and let her cousin gallop ahead.
Margaret watched them with delight, not a pang of envy disturbing her
enjoyment. What a perfect thing it was! how enchanting to be one with
your horse, and feel his strong being added to your own! How--

But what was this? All in a minute, something happened. The black put
his foot in a hole,--a woodchuck's burrow,--stumbled, pitched forward,
and threw Peggy heavily to the ground. He recovered himself in a moment,
and stood trembling; but Peggy lay still. Margaret was at her side in an
instant. The child had struck her head on a stone, and was insensible,
and bleeding profusely from a cut on the left temple. Rita dismounted
and came near.

"Some water, please!" said Margaret. "Bring water quickly, Rita, while I
stop the bleeding. And give me your handkerchief, will you, before you
go?" She held out one h