84 IJY THE HIDING-SCHOOL. 



fostered by a hundred years of national self- 

 government, so go to the school at the hour 

 appointed by your master, an hour when no 

 other pupils are expected. 



The horses pace very solemnly around the 

 great ring, and you adjust yourself with won- 

 derful dignity, feeling that your master must 

 perceive by your improved carriage and by the 

 general perfection of your aspect that your ex- 

 quisite timidity and charming shyness have 

 been responsible for your awkwardness in 

 former lessons, when other pupils were pres- 

 ent, but now he leaves your side and takes a 

 position in the centre of the ring, whence he 

 addresses you thus : 



" Keep your reins even ! The right ones are 

 too short, the left too long ! Stop him ! That 

 is not stopping him ! He took two steps for- 

 ward after he checked himself. Go forward, 

 and try again when I tell you. Stop ! Not so 

 hard, not so hard ! You are making him back ! 

 Extend your arms forward ! There ! A little 

 more, and you would have made him rear ! 

 Whoa ! Wo-ho ! Now listen ! Not so ! Don't 

 drop your reins in that way, and sit so care- 



