Then she made Lucy and Andy cry out with her: "Long life to Chrysoprasus! Hip, hip, hurrah!"
And after this performance was over she went out for her first ride.
Her Aunt had stipulated that Andy should go with her for the first time. The old man came back and informed his mistress that Harebell was a born rider, and had a perfect seat and hand.
"And the pony is as quiet with her as a sheep," he ejaculated. "She won't come to harm in our quiet lanes."
So Harebell was allowed an hour's ride every day, directly after lunch in the afternoon, and that hour was a golden time with her. Her cheeks began to get rosy, and her thin little face to fill out.
Mrs. Keith took very little notice of her, beyond seeing her at her meals, and for a short time in the evening before she went to bed. Harebell grew accustomed to her aunt's silent ways, and lost her first awe of her; but she told herself over and over again that she could never love her. She talked a great deal to her pony, and no longer felt lonely.
And her lessons at the Rectory became more and more interesting to her.
Peter, Nan, and herself soon became the greatest friends.
"England is a very nice place after all," she told Goody one day.
And Goody assented to the sentiment with much fervour.