164 IN THE HIDING-SCHOOL. 



ment, and you fly into a small fury of determi- 

 nation to show him that you can exist "without 

 a gentleman." Down go your hands, you 

 straighten your shoulders, adjust yourself to a 

 nicety, think of yourself and of your horse 

 with all the intensity of which you are capable, 

 and make two or three rounds without reproof. 



"Now," says the teacher, "we will try a 

 rather longer trot than usual, and when any 

 lady is tired she may go to the centre of the 

 ring. Prepare to trot ! Trot ! " 



The leader's eyes sparkle with delight as she 

 allows her good horse, after a round or two, to 

 take his own speed, the teacher continues his 

 usual fire of truthful comments as to shoulders, 

 hands and reins, and one after another, the 

 girls leave the track, and only the leader and 

 you remain, she, calm and cool as an iceberg, 

 you, flushed, and compelled to correct your 

 position at almost every stride of your horse, 

 sometimes obliged to sit close for half a round, 

 but with your whole Yankee soul set upon 

 trotting until your teacher bids you cease. 

 Can you believe your ears ? 



" Brava, Miss Esmeralda ! " shouts the mas- 



