IN THE BIDING-SCHOOL. 27 



danger whatsoever. You cannot fall off while 

 your right knee and left foot are in place, and 

 if you deliberately threw yourself into the tan, 

 you would be unhurt, and the riding-school 

 horse knows better than to tread on anything 

 unusual which he may find in his way. 



Now, Esmeralda, keep your mind — No, your 

 saddle is not turning ; it is well girthed. You 

 feel as if it were ? Pray, how do you know how 

 you would feel if a saddle were to turn ? Did 

 you ever try it? And your saddle. is not too 

 large ! Neither is it too small ! And there 

 is nothing at all the matter with your horse ! 

 Now, Esmeralda, keep your mind — No, that 

 other girl is not going to ride you down. Her 

 horse would not allow her, if she endeavored to 

 do so. The trouble is that she does not guide 

 her horse, but is worrying herself about stay- 

 ing on his back, when she should be thinking 

 about making him turn sharp corners and go 

 straight forward. Regard her as a warning, 

 Esmeralda, and keep your mind — What is 

 the matter with the reins ? Apparently they 

 are oiled, for they have slipped from under your 

 thumbs, and your horse is wandering along with 



