'Does it?' said Kitty. 'Well, if ever you try it with me, you'll burn your fingers and find out.'
Again in spite of everything Wych Hazel laughed,—ever so softly, but undeniably.
'Tell me what it is,—and I will promise never to try it with you.' Kitty's handsome face darkened.
'Can you reason back from particular cases to general principles?' she said.
'You always want a great many cases to form an induction,' said Rollo, 'I thought you would shirk the question.'
'Shirk? not I?' said Miss Fisher. 'I was just going to give you an instance. That girl, who has played coy all summer, and wouldn't ride with a man here because she must have her own horse, forsooth; suddenly waives her scruples in favour of another man, and finds she can ride his horse, without difficulty.'
Wych Hazel drew up her graceful figure to its full height, but she said not a word. Riding at ease, as usual, Rollo spoke in a voice as clear as it was cold.
'Only a coward, Miss Fisher, strikes a man—or a woman—whose hands are bound. Good evening.'
Lifting his hat with his most curt salutation, Rollo seized the bridle of the brown mare and made her understand what was expected of her, his own bay at the instant springing forward with a bound. Miss Kitty was left in the distance. Neither was she mounted well enough to follow if she had had the inclination. The run this time was in good earnest, till they drew rein again near the gate of Chickaree.
'I knew I could trust you to keep your seat,' said Rollo then lightly to his companion, 'even if I was unceremonious.'