IN THE HIDING-SCHOOL. 181 



be so close as to prevent you from clasping your 

 hands above your head with your arms extended 

 at full length, and the waist shall be loose. If 

 you go to a tailor, Esmeralda, prepare yourself 

 to make a firm stand on this point. Warn him, 

 in as few words as possible, that you will not 

 take the habit out of his shop unless it suits 

 you, and do not allow yourself to be overawed by 

 the list of his patrons, all of whom "wear their 

 habits far tighter, ma'am." Unless you can draw 

 a full, deep breath with your habit buttoned, you 

 cannot do yourself or your teacher any credit in 

 trotting, and you will sometimes find yourself 

 compelled to give your escort the appearance of 

 being discourteous by drawing rein suddenly, 

 leaving him, unwarned, to trot on, apparently 

 disregarding your plight. Both your horse and 

 his will resent your action, and unless he resem- 

 ble both Moses and Job more strongly than most 

 Americans, he will have a few words to say in 

 regard to it, after you have repeated it once or 

 twice. And, lastly, Esmeralda, no riding master 

 with any sense of duty will allow you to wear 

 such a habit in his presence without telling you 

 his opinion of it, and stating his reasons for 



