152 IN THE RIDING-SCHOOL. 



The new pupil, who thinks a riding habit 

 should be worn over two or three skirts, and 

 who is consequently sitting with the aerial ele- 

 gance of a feather bed, is riding with her snaffle 

 rein, the curb tied on her horse's neck, and is 

 clasping it by the centre, allowing the rest to 

 hang loose, so that Clifton, supposing that she 

 means to give him liberty to browse, is looking 

 for grass among the tan. Not finding it, he 

 snorts occasionally, whereupon she calls him 

 " poor thing," and tells him that " it is a 

 warm day, and that he should rest, so he 

 should ! " 



" Your reins are too long," says your master. 



" Do you mean that they are too long, or that 

 I am holding them so as to make them too 

 long," she inquires, in a precise manner. 



" They are right enough. Our saddlers know 

 their business. But you are holding them so 

 that you might as well have none. Shorten 

 them, and make him bring his head up in its 

 proper place." 



"But I think it's cruel to treat him so, when 

 he's tired, poor thing ! I always hold my reins 

 in the middle when I'm driving, and my horse 



