"Yes, yes!" cried Betty. "Can the mare travel on this hard snow?"
"Yes, ma'am. I didn't draw the calks for I exercised 'er each d'y, I did. I didn't want 'er to fall. An' now I failed myself!"
The two girls looked at each other significantly. Ida was easily led out of the room. Betty put the question to her.
"That's just it, Betty," said the English girl, almost in tears. "I never learned to ride. I never did ride. My nurse was afraid to let me learn when I was little, and although I love horses, I only know how to drive them. It's like a sailor never having learned to swim."
Betty beat her hands together in excitement. "Never mind! Never mind!" she cried. "I can ride. I can ride any horse. I am not afraid of your Ida Bellethorne. And none of the boys or men is here. I'll go for the doctor."
"I don't know if it is best for you to," groaned Ida.
"Call Mrs. Candace." They were in the kitchen, and Ida ran to summon the farm woman while Betty got into her coat. Mrs. Candace came, hurrying.
"What is this I hear?" she demanded. "I couldn't let you ride that horse. You will be thrown or something."
"No I shan't, Mrs. Candace. I can ride. And Hunchie says the mare is sharpened."
"So she is. I had forgotten," the woman admitted thoughtfully.