IN THE HIDING-SCHOOL. 119 



" The other master shall ride with you for a 

 few rounds," he continues ; <4 that will give you 

 confidence, and you will not be nervous." You 

 indignantly disclaim the possession of nerves, 

 he smiles indulgently, and the other teacher 

 rides up beside you, and advises you steadily 

 and quietly during the next succession of trot- 

 ting and walking, and, conscious of not exert- 

 ing yourself quite so much and of being easier, 

 you begin to think that perhaps you have a 

 nerve or two somewhere, and you determine to 

 conquer them. 



" You are sitting too far to the right now," 

 says your new guide, the most quiet of North 

 Britons. " There should be about half an inch 

 of the saddle visible to you beyond the edge of 

 your habit, if it fit quite smooth, but you would 

 better not look down to see it. It would do no 

 harm for once, perhaps, but it would look queer, 

 and might come to be a habit. Try to judge 

 of your position by the feeling of your shoul- 

 ders and by thinking whether you are observ- 

 ing every rule ; but, once in a great while, when 

 you are walking, take your reins in your left 

 hand, pass your right hand lightly along the 



