“Ah, well! the 193rd don’t fear any officers of the Guides; do we, Ted?”
“Not a bit! The Guides are only a lot of brigands!” he made answer.
“Exactly. I keep telling your brother that it will go against the grain to marry a man in such a disreputable corps.”
Jim grinned. “Then give me back my freedom,” said he.
“I don’t know what we shall do,” continued the girl, treating this remark with the contempt it deserved, “if Captain Markham’s knee refuses to get right. He’s a perfect steeple-chaser, and it’s as much through his handling as the merits of his horse that we hope to win the day. ‘The Padre’ is a most lovable animal, but this is his first steeple-chase.”
“Can no one take Markham’s place, then, if he should be unable to ride?”
“I’m afraid not. You see, none of our officers is first-class at the sport, and the two best are already engaged to ride their own mounts. So if ‘The Padre’s’ owner doesn’t ride—why, we shall lose the cup.”
Suddenly a bright and joyful idea seized upon the girl.
“Why, Ted,” she exclaimed, “I believe you could ride him!”
“Oh, no! I don’t know the horse, and I’ve never ridden in a flat race, much less a steeple-chase.”