"Is it the same as hedging?" asked Nancy.
"It means—well, it means it's off. You know what it means as well as I do. And I don't like your arranging with each other to get things out of the governor, either—or anybody else. You get plenty given you, and it isn't nice for girls of your age to be always on the make."
"But, Dick darling," expostulated Joan, "there are such lots of horses about the place. I think we might be allowed to ride now. Of course, we didn't mean a pony, really. We are big enough to stick on a horse, and father wouldn't have to buy another one for us."
"We are about to embark on an arduous course of study," said Nancy, "and horse exercise would be the best possible thing for us."
"You stick to your golf," said Dick. "We spent a lot of money making those links in the park, and you get more fun out of them than anybody."
"Then you won't help us about riding?" asked Joan.
"No," said Dick. "All the nags are wanted for hunting, and I'm not going to advise the governor to increase the stables."
Nancy breathed a deep sigh. "It's all your fault, Joan," she said. "You don't know how to treat a man. You must never blurt things out that you want. You must remember women are a subject race."
"But you won't mind our asking father, Dick, will you?" pleaded Joan.
Dick gave his ultimatum. "You'd better give up the idea," he said. "And remember what I told you about being on the make. You're nice kids, but you want keeping in order. I hope the new lady will do it."