IN THE HIDING-SCHOOL. 81 



horse, made her wipe her face, arrange the curly 

 locks flying about her ears, readjust her hat, and 

 generally smooth her plumage, until she was once 

 more comfortable. 



After a little, the master proposed a trot up 

 the hill, and instructed Esmeralda to lean for- 

 ward as her horse climbed upward, " If you 

 should have to trot down hill, lean back a little, 

 and keep your reins short," he said. 



The lawyer and the society young lady, essay- 

 ing to descend the next hill brilliantly, barely 

 escaped going over their horses' heads, and all 

 four ladies were glad when they perceived that 

 they were going homeward. 



" I like it," Esmeralda said to the master, 

 "but I wish I knew more, and I'm going to 

 learn, and I see now that three lessons isn't 

 enough, even for a beginning." 



" I know a girl who took seventeen lessons 

 and then was thrown," said the society young 

 lady. " Native ability is better than teaching. 

 I don't believe any master could make a rider 

 of you, Esmeralda." 



" A good teacher can make a rider of any one 

 who will study," said the master, to whom she 



