m THE HIDING-SCHOOL. 155 



learn without obedience, and that her horse was 

 too good, if anything, the more determined she 

 becomes, and soon you wisely desist. 



As she departs, " Oh, dear," you say, " I 

 thought there was nothing but fun at riding- 

 school, and just see all these queer folks." 



" My dear," says philosophic Nell, " they 

 are part of the fun. And we are fun to the 

 old riders ; and we are all fun to our 

 master." 



Here you find yourselves enjoying a bit of 

 fun from which your master is shut out, for 

 three or four girls come up from the ring to- 

 gether, and, not seeing you, hidden behind your 

 screens, two, in whom you and Nell have 

 already recognized saleswomen from whom you 

 have more than once bought laces, begin to talk 

 to overawe the others. 



" My deah," says one, " now I think of it, I 

 weally don't like the setting of these diamonds 

 that you had given you last night. It's too 

 heavy, don't you think ? " 



The other replies in a tone which would 

 cheat a man, but in which you instantly detect 

 an accent of surprise and a determination to 



