38 IN THE RIDING-SCHOOL. 



at first from well-meaning bipeds. You are per- 

 fectly safe with him, Esmeralda, not only be- 

 cause he knows how to ride, but because the 

 strongest of all human motives, self-interest, is 

 enlisted to promote your safety. " She said 

 she was afraid to risk her neck," said an ex- 

 hausted teacher, speaking the words of frank- 

 ness to a spectator, as a timid and stupid pupil 

 disappeared into the dressing-room, " and I 

 told her that she could afford the risk better 

 than I. If she broke it, don't you know, it 

 probably could not be mended, but mine might 

 be broken in trying to save her, and, at the 

 best, my reputation and my means of gaining a 

 livelihood would be gone forever in an instant. 

 It's only a neck with her ; it's life and wife and 

 babies that I risk, and I'll insure her neck." 

 And when the stupid pupil, who was a lady in 

 spite of her dulness, came from the dressing- 

 room, calmed and quieted, and began to offer a 

 blushing apology, he repeated his remarks to 

 her, and so excellent was the understanding es- 

 tablished between them after this little incident 

 that she actually came to be a tolerable rider. 

 Feeling that he would tell her to do nothing 



