“Where would you like to go?” she asked.
“Wherever you please.”
“Shall we ride to Blenhall Abbey? We are on the road to it, and the ruins are well worth seeing.”
“I shall be very glad.”
Here her horse sprang forward, mine followed, and away we dashed at full gallop, I stooping my head like a hunchback to keep my hat on, and wondering what pleasure people could take in having their hearts shaken into their throats, and their midriffs into their boots. However, use will father other things besides those begot by sense; and before long I not only began to discover that swift motion was a sensation by no means disagreeable, but found courage to raise my head and attend to my cousin’s figure.
Although, in spite of my fashionable and aristocratic prejudices, I knew almost nothing about riding, the stable, or the turf, I had a good eye for picturesque combinations and graceful movements, for small waists and easy attitudes. I was therefore qualified to admire Theresa on horseback, nor did I require to be told that she was a splendid horsewoman. Even her man’s hat could not deform the perfection of outline submitted to my following gaze by her noble figure. So much has been written about female riders, that all description of Theresa in the saddle would be supererogatory, and I will therefore save you a long account here by briefly referring you for full information on this important subject to the Entertaining Library of six shillings, two shillings, one shilling, and sixpenny novels to be found at all bookstalls and railway stations in town and country.
“I am afraid you find it very hot,” said she, checking; her horse’s canter and dropping alongside of me.
“It is rather hot,” I answered, glancing at a sky whose colour would have figured well in a view of Palmyra. “But I am enjoying my ride very much.”
“I could give you several jumps if you’d care about them. There are some good hedges yonder,” and she pointed with her whip to the plains beneath.
“I am very well satisfied,” I replied. “Let me see! There’s the railway station, and yonder’s the hot road I trudged along yesterday. The view from here is very pretty, but I fancy a ride would be more enjoyable in the cool of the evening. Hallo! are we to go down that hill?”