Hoof Beats 



"Look here, what did you say?" He swung the 

 chair ahead around. He faced a pair of blue 

 eyes and white teeth that flashed, a habit, and a 

 pair of smart-looking boots. 



"Oh!" 



The ripple still rippled on. 



*'I beg your pardon, I'm so sorry. I saw your 

 hat, you know, and thought you were a man," 

 he made a movement as if to rise and bow, but 

 a hand touched him and the ripple ceased. 



"Don't move," the voice cried, "or you'll miss 

 the best of all. We're coming now, — to the *lane* !" 



"The lane!" 



"Of course, the 'lane'! I thought everyone 

 knew the lane. There now, just behind that 

 house. Tn and out' you know, and four foot six 

 each way. Oh but I loved the way you rode the 

 Babbington Brook, no one ever jumped it there 

 before!" The eyes twinkled and the lips were 

 compressed to keep the laughter back. Striving 

 threw back his head and laughed, laughed as he 

 hadn't done for years. 



"And now for the lane!" 

 ^"Come on," the girl replied. 

 PjThey were both riding now and had forgotten 

 the rest of the car. 



"Fearful rate we're going," Striving smiled. 

 The train was making up time. The girl laughed, 

 64 



