"It's the one lesson I begged for," replied Honor. "I could have dispensed with Latin, or German, or mathematics."
"Maisie and I are to begin this term; we're looking forward to it tremendously!"
"You are lucky," said Pauline Reynolds enviously. "I'd give all I possess to be going with you. I've never ridden anything more interesting than a rocking-horse, or a donkey on the sands; and one doesn't get much of a canter for six-pence!"
"I believe I'm horribly nervous, and I don't mind confessing it," declared Lettice. "The idea of being perched on a great, tall horse makes me shake in my shoes. When it begins to trot I shall drop off—I know I shall!"
"Don't be so silly!" protested Maisie. "You can stick on to Teddie at home all right. Honor Fitzgerald, can you ride?"
"Bareback, if you like," said Honor. "Dermot and I used to take our old pony and practise what we called 'circus performances'. Pixie quite entered into the spirit of the thing, and would walk along gently while we stood on his back."
"I hear Mr. Townsend brings very fresh horses," said Lettice, with a shiver of apprehension. "I do hope he'll choose me a quiet one!"
"The fresher the better for me," said Honor. "I'm just longing for a good gallop."
"But suppose it runs away?"
"Then it will have to take me with it. If it's any kind of a beast with four legs, I'll undertake to make it fly."