Sobrante curveted and pranced, bowed his beautiful head, tossed it up and down, showed every symptom of that “disdain” she requested but—did not rise upon his hind legs. After that, with each succeeding moment, nearly, one of the offending, snorting monsters passed them by or met them face to face; and by the time they had entered the Park gates he had become familiar with at least one phase of the city streets.
Both Ephraim and Jessica were delighted with him.
“He’s just as intelligent—as he looks! Some horses aren’t, you know. And as handsome as he is wise. Oh! He’s just perfect. He’s far and away finer than that new ‘Beauty’ of Helen Rhinelander’s. ‘Beauty’ is true to his name, course, but I don’t like his eye. He shows the white of it too much; and though he pretends he doesn’t mind autos, isn’t a bit afraid of them, he is. Down in his heart he is. I’ve watched him while we were out here in the Park. I think the master doesn’t wholly trust that horse, either; else he wouldn’t ride so close to Helen and leave one of his assistants to attend the beginners who need most care.
“Just to think, Ephy dear! I shan’t have to ride a hired horse again! And I can hardly wait for to-morrow and our regular lesson. All the ‘Pros’ will be delighted with Sobrante; and I’d be glad to share him with them, if I were allowed.”
“Don’t do that, ‘Captain,’ not yet. You’ve got to let him learn you, first, so he would mind your voice even with somebody else in his saddle. And I’ll be on hand. My shucks! But it will seem like old times for us to be riding together just as we used! Get up there, you slow poke! I’ve a mind to send home again for a creatur’ of my own! Then I’d be fixed!”
Jessica said nothing to this; but all at once she appeared anxious for their return. So they wheeled about and arrived at the ‘Adelphi’ in such good time that Madame was greatly pleased and promised another outing for these two alone.
But Jessica’s haste was not so much due to her obedience as to a notion that had entered her head when Ephraim spoke. If one horse could be shipped safely from Sobrante, why not two? So she spent the remainder of that recreation afternoon in writing to her mother and asking for “Forty-niner” a similar gift to her own. Also, in due time the letter was answered by the arrival of another steed. Not quite so fine as Sobrante but far finer than any the sharpshooter could hire at the ordinary livery-stable; and when received his own delight was as great as Jessica’s had been. He had been sorely perplexed between his longing for the animal and his sense of right. He hated debt, as had all his old employer’s household. He must save to pay expenses during his life in New York, while his little lady was achieving that education she desired, and for his trip home again when that education was accomplished. He would not receive a gift of money from Mrs. Trent, and Jessica’s “allowance” was most modest—also, generally used up to the last cent from quarter to quarter. But a gift of a horse—that was quite another matter; and it added to the old man’s health as well as his pleasure.
But long before that letter was far on its way the hour had arrived for the riding class to take their trip to the Park. It was the custom on such occasions for the horses to be brought to the Adelphi and the young ladies to start from there, with the attendant master and his assistant teachers. This time when they assembled, Helen Rhinelander first saw Sobrante, and Ephraim was gratified by the envious look she cast on the animal and on its graceful rider.
Reining her own “Beauty” up to Jessica’s side, she inquired:
“Is that your own horse, Miss Trent?”