LEARNING. 83 



flushed and worried, but joyous and exultant 

 and impatient for the next. You have begun 

 to feel quite brave, and to throw out hints 

 that you are longing for a good ride on 

 the road. You now know how to make your 

 horse trot and canter ; the first by a light 

 touch of your whip and a gentle movement of 

 your bridle through his mouth; the second 

 by a slight bearing of the rein upon the near 

 side of his mouth, so as to make him go off. 

 upon the right leg, and a little warning touch 

 of your heel. You fancy, in fact, that you 

 are quite a horsewoman, and have already 

 rolled up your hair into a neat knot, and 

 hinted to papa that you should greatly like a 

 habit. But, alas ! you have plenty of trouble 

 yet before you, plenty to learn, plenty of falls 

 to get and to bear. At present you can ride 

 fairly well on the straight ; but you know 

 nothing of keeping your balance in time of 

 danger. Your horse is very quiet, but if he 

 chanced to put back his ears you would 

 be off. 



You are taught to maintain your balance in 

 the following way : — 



3 



