IN THE HIDING-SCHOOL. 103 



the opinion of the gallery, been showing a very 

 bad temper, although in reality every plunge 

 and curvet has been made in answer to her 

 wrist and to the tiny spur which his rider wears 

 and uses when needed. The lady nods in an- 

 swer to something which the master says, the 

 two draw near to the wall, side by side, the 

 others fall in behind them, and the band begins 

 a waltz, playing rather deliberately at first, but 

 soon slightly accelerating the time. 



There is very little actual need of guiding 

 your horse, Esmeralda, because long habit has 

 taught him what to do at a music-ride, but you 

 do right to continue to endeavor to make him 

 obey you. Should he stumble ; should that 

 man riding before you and struggling to make 

 his horse change his leading foot fail in the at- 

 tempt, and cause the poor creature to fall ; 

 should the rider behind you lose control of her 

 horse, your firm hold of the reins would be of 

 priceless value to you, but now the waltz rhythm 

 suddenly changes to that of a march, and your 

 horse begins to trot, slowly and with little action 

 at first, and then with a freer, longer stride which 

 really lifts you out of the saddle, sending you 



