146 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 



"Stop you, my lady! no, that's just what they do all say; and 

 what's more, they say you can't stop yourself — that you ain't got no 

 hands, and your horse takes you just where he pleases, if it's even 

 right over the hounds." 



The " Bebe sahib " was bitterly chagrined, for she prided herself 

 justly upon her capital hands upon a horse. She was silent for a 

 few minutes, and then she said, " I want you to tell me what to do^ 

 just to let these people know, as you do, that I have hands." — 

 " Then I will tell you," my lady, said John, brightening up. "Just 

 you do this : when the hounds get away, you let me go first, and 

 keep your horse about a hundred yards behind me. I'll pick out a 

 line big enough, I'll warrant, and that will show them all about your 

 seat and your jumping. Then about the hands ; if you please, 

 w^henever I pull up, you do the same. They say as you can't stop 

 your horse, you know." 



" Can't I?" said the little lady, " can't stop my horse when I like! 

 I'U let them see that. Can't stop ! I should like to know what a 

 woman can't do if she makes up her mind to do it." 



John's wife was a capital judge ; there was no more riding over 

 hounds or disarranging of elderly gentlemen's teeth. But the " Bebe 

 sahib " has taken me to the extremity of my space, and I must pull 

 up, reserving further observations and suggestions on the himting 

 field for my next chapter. 



