Leonie's face was hidden in the mane, and backed his horse as the waler
came down with a terrific clatter on the hard ground, scraping the
colonel mem-sahib's foot as she wheeled about, emitting silly little
cries, whilst men tore up from all sides with desire to help.

Up again he shot, pawing the air until it seemed that he surely must fall
backwards, and men and women stared aghast until Leonie, raising her arm,
brought her whip down between the silky ears.

"Damnation!" said John Thorne as Leonie patted the Devil's neck as he
danced nervously on one spot.

"Time I took him home," she said. "The syce?--no! I daren't give him to
anyone as he is--oh! good morning----

"Saw your _haute ecole_ stunt, Lady Hickle," burst out a lad who rode a
fallen star in the shape of a discarded discreditable polo pony. "Simply
topping--but the Devil's a nervy demon, you _shouldn't_ ride him--he'll
get away with you one of these fine days. What happened?"

"He bumped into my horse, he's not safe to be out amongst us--indeed, he
is _not_. Lady Hickle, I have been in Cat----"

The rest was lost in precipitate flight with the colonel mem-sahib's arms
closely hugging her pony's neck, to the joy and the infinite delight of
the rest of the spectators.

Unseen, uncouth John Thorne, furious at the scant courtesy shown to the
lady of his dreams, had brought his whip down heftily, just above the
mangy tail of the colonel mem's pony.

"I think I'll ride alone, if you don't mind," said Leonie with a ripple
of suppressed laughter in her voice.

"All the way to Alipore?"

"Oh! it's not far, and I daren't trust the syce, the Devil would simply
_eat_ him."

The boy sidled in between her and Thorne, to the latter's infinite
annoyance.

"Are you still keen on the _shikar_ stunt, Lady Hickle?"

He gazed at her adoringly, and she smiled back into the honest, merry
eyes.

"_Shikar_ stunt?"

"Yes! you remember--Sunderbunds--dak bungalows--_shikari_--wild animals
in bunches--discomfort and all the rest. Say yes! Oh! _do_!" as Leonie
slowly shook her head, "It'll be such a rag! Major and Mrs.
Talbot--she's a fine shot--you and me, and we've got to get another
fe--woman 'cos a simply top-hole fellow walked into the club last night,
who's wonderfully keen on it; we're kind of related, his father was my
mother's second cousin."

"And the higher the fewer," interposed Thorne, as Leonie laughed. "And
what's the top-hole fellow's name