IN THE BIDING-SCHOOL. 31 



asks, in an agreeable voice. " Shorten your reins, 

 now ! Don't pull on them ! Right shoulder 

 back ! Now rise from the saddle as I count, 

 'One, two, three, four!' Off we go!" You 

 would like to know what he meant by "off!" 

 "Off," indeed! You thought you were "off" 

 the saddle. You have been bounced up and 

 down mercilessly, and have gasped, " Stop him ! " 

 before you have been twice around the ring, 

 and not one corner have you been able to turn 

 properly. As for your elbows, you know that 

 they have been flying all abroad, but still — it 

 was fun, and you would like to try again. You 

 do try again, and, at last, you are conscious of 

 a sudden feeling of elasticity, of sympathy with 

 your horse, of rising when he does, and then 

 your master looks at you triumphantly, and 

 says : " You rose that time," and leaves you to 

 go to some other pupil. And then you walk 

 your horse again, trying to keep in position, 

 and you make furtive little essays at trotting 

 by yourself, and find that you cannot keep your 

 horse to the wall, although you pull your hardest 

 at his left rein, the reason being that, uncon- 

 sciously, you also pull at the right rein, and that 



