o, and I
was so interested to hear all about the new colts.
I am so glad Undine is proving such a comfort. I
knew you couldn't help loving her, she is such a
dear, and she promised to try to take my place. I
told the girls at school about her, and they
thought it the most interesting thing they had
ever heard. Lulu Bell says she is going to tell
her aunt, who is an authoress, about it, and ask
her to put Undine in a book. Won't it be too
interesting if she really does?

"O dear! there is the clock striking ten, and I
have been writing ever since half-past eight. I
must stop now, and go to bed, or I shall be sleepy
to-morrow morning. Ten o'clock at night used to
seem very late indeed at home, but it seems quite
early here. Elsie doesn't expect to get home from
her party before half past eleven. Uncle Henry
doesn't approve of late hours for school-girls,
but Aunt Julia says everybody in New York keeps
them, so it can't be helped. I forgot to say the
party is at Bessie Winston's. She is one of the
girls at Miss Lothrop's, and one of Elsie's
intimate friends. I was invited, too, but Aunt
Julia wouldn't let me accept, because my new
dresses haven't come home yet. Elsie says I
wouldn't have enjoyed it, anyway, because I can't
dance. She goes to a dancing class every Saturday
morning, and Aunt Julia says she may have me go
too after Christmas. I think I should like
dancing, for the sake of the exercise if nothing
else. Oh, how I do long for exercise! Elsie rides
in summer, but her pony is at their country place
on Long Island, and they don't think it worth
while to bring it in to New York. Aunt Julia says
Elsie has so many other things to do in winter she
has no time for riding. What wouldn't I give for
one good canter on Roland! I can't help envying
the girls I see riding in the park, though none of
them look as if they were enjoying it as much as I
should. They all ride side-saddle, and I don't
believe it can be nearly as pleasant as riding
astride, but Aunt Julia told me not to say so,
because i