“It’s a pity,” said the other. “If you had met Miss Stanton earlier in the evening, I think she could have taught you to ride that mare. I wanted to see you win your bet.”
“Bet?” said Livingstone.
“Reggie’s such an idiot,” said Mrs. Everett. “He bet Tommy Post that Hermione would beat his chestnut in the five-foot-six jumps, and Reggie can’t make Hermione jump at all, so he’s lost.”
“Not yet; I’ve got a chance,” said Reggie, good-naturedly. “Perhaps I’ll go in, after all.” The other men laughed.
“I should think you had made monkey enough of yourself for one evening,” observed Palfrey, who was his best friend and could say such things.
“Five feet six would be easy for Lady Washington,” said Angelica. “I can’t get used to calling her by that new name.” She hesitated a moment with embarrassment, and then she stammered: “Why don’t you let me ride her?”
The people in the box looked aghast.
“I’m afraid it wouldn’t do,” said Reggie, seriously. “It’s awfully good of you, but, you see, it wouldn’t look well to put a lady on that horse. Suppose something should happen?”
“Good of me!” the girl exclaimed. “I’d love it! I want to ride her again so much!”
“Well,” said Reggie, “I’ll have her at the park for you tomorrow morning. You can ride her whenever you like.”