confidence which roused a slight feeling of envy and sadness in Rose's
heart.

'We have been talking about hunting,' she began at once.

'Oh, yes,' Christabel said. She looked warily from one to the other.

'I'm recommending you to stick to the old brown horse, but Francis
says you laugh at him.'

'Would you ride him yourself?' Christabel asked.

'Not if I could get something better.'

'Well, then--' Christabel's tone was final.

But Rose persisted, saying, 'But, you see, this isn't my first season.
Stick to the old horse for a little while.'

'No,' Christabel said firmly. 'If Francis thinks I can ride the mare,
I should like to have her.'

Rose laughed, but she felt uneasy, and Francis said, 'I told you so.
She has any amount of pluck. You come and watch.'

'No, I can't come to-morrow. I think I'll see her first in all her
glory on the grey mare.'

'All the same,' Christabel added, 'if she's very expensive, I don't
want her. Francis is extravagant over horses, and we have to be