“Yes, I am,” said Angelica. “And if he’d done what I told him to she would have won. Here’s our Emanuel,” she went on. “He’ll tell you I can ride her. Emanuel,” she demanded, as the negro approached, “haven’t I ridden Lady Washington?”
“You jest have, Miss Angie,” said Emanuel. “Why,” said he, turning to William, “this heah young lady have rode that maah ovah six feet. She done won the high jump at ouah hunt show. That’s Lady Washington all right,” he went on, looking at the head poked out over the stall. “I got huh maahk on mah ahm foh to remembah huh.”
The stable-boy grinned.
“Well, she never bit me,” said Angelica.
“The young lady,” said William, doubtfully, “wants to ride her in the five-foot-six class. She says Mr. Haughton said she might.”
“Oh, Miss Angelica,” interposed Caroline, “you’ll be kilt!”
“You’re a goose,” said Angelica. “I’ve ridden her hundreds of times.”
“I don’t know how Mistah Jim would like it,” said Emanuel; “but she could ride that maah all right, you jest bet.”
William was getting interested. He was not so concerned about Mr. Stanton’s likes as he was that his stable should take some ribbons.
“Mr. Haughton said you might ride her?” he repeated.