‘I’ll answer for Mr. Piper’s approval. And now run and put on your habit, and try Erebus’s paces over that smooth bit of turf.’
Bella ran away and reappeared in about ten minutes, looking the prettiest little huntress imaginable, perfectly dressed from the top of her neat chimney-pot to the point of her morocco boot. She had forgotten nothing.
Captain Standish lifted her into the saddle, gave her the reins, and then mounted by her side. They walked quietly to the stretch of turf, and then and there, the instant he felt the grass under his hoofs, Erebus bolted with his light burden.
She sat him splendidly, feeling as if her last hour were come. After making a wild circuit of a mile or so, he consented to be pulled up, and stood looking the image of innocence, when Captain Standish rode slowly up to him.
‘I hope you didn’t think me cruel for not riding after you,’ said the captain. ‘My horse would have only made yours go faster. I saw you were mistress of him. He suits you to a nicety. But you shouldn’t indulge him with that kind of spurt often. It isn’t good form.’
‘N—no,’ faltered Bella, who had no more control over the black than she had over the hastening clouds in the autumn sky.
‘Now we’ll go for a ride over the moor, and you shall take it out of him,’ said the captain.
They went upon the moor, and the black took it out of Bella, for she went home after a two hours ride more exhausted than she had ever felt in her life before.
There had been no opportunity even for the captain to breathe the sweet poison of his unhallowed love in his companion’s ear, although they were alone together under the wide heaven. The black had absorbed the attention of both. He was a creature of infinite resources, and of as much variety as the serpent of old Nile. They never knew what he might be doing next.
‘Do you really think I shall be able to hunt with him?’ asked Bella, when she dismounted, faint and exhausted, at her own door.