78 IN THE BIDING-SCHOOL. 



" Very soon," she said to herself, "I shall be 

 thrown and dragged, and what a figure I shall 

 be going home, if I'm not killed ! But I sha'n't 

 be ! I shall be ridiculous, and that's worse." 

 Here she swept by the riding party, but as Ver- 

 satilia and the beauty turned to look at her, and 

 forgot to control their horses, the cavalryman 

 and the Texan had to do it for them, and could do 

 nothing for Esmeralda except to shout " Whoa," 

 which Ronald very properly disregarded. The 

 master came up, and the society young lady 

 addressed him with, " Very silly of her to try to 

 exhibit herself so, isn't it ? " 



" That's no exhibition ; that's a runaway," 

 said the master grimly. " She's doing well too, 

 poor girl," and he and Theodore went on after 

 the flying rider. 



Two or three carriages, the riders staring with 

 horror ; a pedestrian or two, innocently wonder- 

 ing why a lady should be on the road alone ; a 

 small boy whistling shrilly ; these were all the 

 spectators of Esmeralda's flight. She felt deso- 

 late and deserted, and yet sure that it was best 

 that she should be alone, since the master could 

 overtake her if he would, and she wondered if 



