M._ This lot don't look much like going over 'urdles--'cept
in front o' the 'orse, but I'll tell the Captin.

[_The hurdles are brought in and propped up. Enter a
well-turned-out Stranger, on a grey cob._

_Mr. Sniggers_ (_to him._) You ain't lost nothing by coming late, I
can tell yer. We've bin having a gay old time in 'ere--made us ride
without sterrups, he did!

_Capt. Headstall._ Haw, really? Didn't pet grassed, did you?

_Mr. S._ Well, me and my 'orse separated by mutual consent. I ain't
what you call a fancy 'orseman. We've got to go at that 'urdle in a
minute. How do _you_ like the ideer, eh? It's no good funking it--it's
got to be _done_!

_R.M._ Now, Captin--not _you_, Captin CROPPER--Captin 'EDSTALL, _I_
mean, will you show them the way over, please?

[_Captain H. rides at it; the cob jumps too short, and knocks
the hurdle down--to his rider's intense disgust._

_Mr. S._ I say, Guv'nor, that was a near thing. I wonder you weren't
off.

_Capt. H._ I--ah--don't often come off.

_Mr. S._ You won't say that when you've been 'ere a few times. You
see, they've put you on a quiet animal this journey. _I_ shall try to
get him myself next time. He be'aves like a gentleman, _he_ does!

_Capt. H._ You won't mount him, if you take my advice--he has rather a
delicate mouth.

_Mr. S._ Oh, I don't mind that--I should ride him on the curb, o'
course. [_The Class ride at the hurdle, one by one._

_R.M._ Now, Mr. SNIGGERS, give 'im more of 'is 'ed than that, Sir--or
he'll take it.... Oh, Lor, well, it's soft falling luckily! Mr.
JOGGLES, Sir, keep him back till you're in a line with it.... Better,
Sir; you come down true on your saddle afterwards, anyway!... Mr.
PARABOLE!... Ah, _would_ you? _Told_ you he was tricky, Sir! Try him
at it again.... Now--over!... Yes, and it _is_ over, and no mistake!

_Mrs. B.-K._ Now it's ROBERT's turn. I'm afraid he's been overtiring
himself, he looks so pale. BOB, you won't let him jump too high,
_will_ you?-- Oh, I daren't look. Tell me, my love,--is he _safe_?

_Her Friend._ Perfectly--they're just brushing him down.

AFTERWARDS.

_Mrs. B.-K._ (_to her Son_). Oh, BOB, you must never think of jumping
again--it _is_ such a dangerous amusement!

_Robert_ (_who has been cursing the hour in which he informed his
parent of the exact whereabouts of the school._) It's all right with a
horse that knows _how_ to jump. Mine didn't.

_The Friend._ I _thought_ you s