Jeanette was scarcely able to listen attentively, as she knew beforehand what was required.
At a signal the riders were off.
An instant Jeanette found herself beside her stepmother.
"You will be careful, Jeanette. Don't take unnecessary chances," she said half in words, half in the expression of her eyes.
Jeanette set her lips. She had no time to think and no chance even to nod her head.
Her pony was passing easily ahead of her stepmother and was nose to nose with the two riders leading the entire number.
The first ditch Jeanette took easily. Still she raced on ahead, with the wind singing in her ears, her heart beating quickly and happily.
She was doing as well as the best of the other riders. Her stepmother was not among them.
Five minutes after Jeanette found herself moving along with one other woman in the lead. The third rider's horse had refused to take the last fence and she was dropping out.
Jeanette and her companion arrived first at the goal on the opposite end of the field. The other woman was ahead, but in the turn, which was difficult and required skill and courage, Jeanette found herself in the lead.