e's life none shone with a brighter and
more certain lustre than the days of her visit to Lakeside Farm.

CHAPTER XVI

HOSPITALITY WITHOUT GRUDGING

By arrangement made the previous evening Jane was awake before the
family was astir and in Nora's hands preparing for a morning ride with
Larry, who was to give her her first lesson in equitation.

"Your habit will be too big for me, Nora, I am afraid," she said.

"Habit!" cried Nora. "My pants, you mean. You can pull them up, you
know. There they are."

"Pants!" gasped Jane. "Pants! Nora, pants! Do you mean to say you wear
these things where all the men will see you?" Even in the seclusion of
her bedroom Jane's face at the thought went a fiery red. Nora laughed at
her scornfully. "Oh, but I can't possibly go out in these before Larry.
I won't ride at all. Haven't you a skirt, a regular riding habit?"

But Nora derided her scruples. "Why, Jane, we all wear them here."

"Does Kathleen?"

"Of course she does, and Mrs. Waring-Gaunt, and everybody."

"Oh, she might, but I am sure your mother would not."

Nora shouted joyfully. "Well, that is true, she never has, but then she
has never ridden out here. Put them on, hurry up, your legs are straight
enough, your knees don't knock."

"Oh, Nora, they are just terrible," said Jane, almost in tears. "I know
I will just squat down if Larry looks at me."

"Why should he look at you? Don't you ever let on but that you have worn
them often, and he will never think of looking at you."

In face of many protests Jane was at length arrayed in her riding
apparel.

"Why, you look perfectly stunning," said Nora. "You have got just the
shape for them. Pull them up a little. There, that is better. Now step
out and let me see you."

Jane walked across the room and Nora rocked in laughter. "Oh, Nora, I
will just take them off. You are as mean as you can be. I will pull them
off."

"Not a bit," said Nora, still laughing, "only stretch your legs a bit
when you walk. Don't mince along. Stride like a man. These men have
had all the fun in the matter of clothes. I tell you it was one of the
proudest moments of my life when I saw my own legs walking. Now step
out and swing your arms. There, you are fine, a fine little chap, Jane,
round as a barrel, and neat as a ballet dancer, although I never saw one
except in magazines."

Trim and neat Jane looked, the riding suit showing off the beautiful
lines of her round, shapely figure.