carry her beautifully: he is as
quiet as a lamb, and I made Gregory go out with him yesterday with a
sheet hanging over him like a lady's habit, and the man got up into a
lady's saddle."

"I think Gregory would make a better hand of it than Lucy."

"The horse cantered with him as though he had carried a lady all his
life, and his mouth is like velvet; indeed, that is his fault--he is
too soft-mouthed."

"I suppose that's the same sort of thing as a man being
soft-hearted," said Lucy.

"Exactly: you ought to ride them both with a very light hand. They
are difficult cattle to manage, but very pleasant when you know how
to do it."

"But you see I don't know how to do it," said Lucy.

"As regards the horse, you will learn in two days, and I do hope you
will try. Don't you think it will be an excellent thing for her, Mrs.
Robarts?"

"Lucy has got no habit," said Mrs. Robarts, making use of the excuse
common on all such occasions.

"There is one of Justinia's in the house, I know. She always leaves
one here, in order that she may be able to ride when she comes."

"She would not think of taking such a liberty with Lady Meredith's
things," said Fanny, almost frightened at the proposal.

"Of course it is out of the question, Fanny," said Lucy, now speaking
rather seriously. "In the first place, I would not take Lord Lufton's
horse; in the second place, I would not take Lady Meredith's habit;
in the third place, I should be a great deal too much frightened;
and, lastly, it is quite out of the question for a great many other
very good reasons."

"Nonsense," said Lord Lufton.

"A great deal of nonsense," said Lucy, laughing, "but all of it
of Lord Lufton's talking. But we are getting cold--are we not,
Fanny?--so we will wish you good-night." And then the two ladies
shook hands with him, and walked on towards the parsonage. That
which astonished Mrs. Robarts the most in all this was the perfectly
collected manner in which Lucy spoke and conducted herself. This,
connected, as she could not but connect it, with the air of chagrin
with which Lord Lufton received Lucy's decision, made it manifest
to Mrs. Robarts that Lord Lufton was annoyed because Lucy would not
consent to learn to ride; whereas she, Lucy herself, had given her
refusal in a firm and decided tone, as though resolved that nothing
more should be said about it. They walked on in silence for a minute
or two, till they reached the parsonage gate, and then L