y and have a lesson?"
interrupted Mollie impetuously.

And the groom wheeled round to face her, and touched his forehead again,
his face one smile of delight.

"Ay, would I, miss! Proud to do it. Many's the one I've taught to ride
in my time. You settle any hour you like, and I'll have the horses
ready for you, and take you a turn across the park. There's some old
side-saddles put away in the loft. I'll have 'em down, and put in order
for ye. And the gentlemen? You'll not be needing any lessons, I'm
thinking."

"Oh no! I think I can manage to sit any horse you have here," replied
Victor in a slightly superior tone.

Jack, however, shook his head, and said--

"No use for me. I can't ride, and it's no use beginning. I'm only here
for a week."

The groom looked the surprise he was too well trained to express.

"Indeed, sir. Well, I can give you a mount if you change your mind. It
wouldn't take long to get your seat; and it's pleasant exercise these
spring days. The carriages are round this way, miss. There's a pretty
little cart you might like to drive yourself."

He led the way forward; but while the others followed, Mollie hung
behind, blocking Jack's way. Something prompted her to speak, an
impulse too strong to be resisted.

"Do learn!" she cried entreatingly. "Learn with us. Why won't you? It
would be such fun. You said you hated to be idle. It wouldn't be
wasted time if you learnt a useful accomplishment."

"Hardly useful to me, I am afraid, Miss Mollie. I have no money for
horses. My only acquaintance with them is from the top of a City
omnibus."

"But you can't tell what might happen. We might go to war again, and
you might want to volunteer. You might grow rich. Besides, you
volunteered to come and stay with the `Chosen,' and then you will
certainly find it useful. So you will join us, won't you?"

Jack laughed and hesitated, looking down at the flushed, eager face. It
seemed a very trifling matter. He could not tell that with the
acceptance or refusal of this light request the whole of his future
destiny was involved. He only thought that Mollie was a charmingly
pretty girl, and that it would be amusing to practise riding by her
side.

"Well! since you put it like that, I can't refuse," he answered
laughingly. "We will learn together, Miss Mollie, and good luck to our
efforts."

"But what about the riding-habits?" asked Ruth.

"We must get them," said Mollie.