They talked about everything in the world except what was most on their
minds. Their soft tones and expressive eyes supplied that little
deficiency.
One day he caught her riding on her little Arab. The groom fell
behind directly. After they had ridden some distance in silence,
Walter broke out:
"How beautifully you ride!"
"Me!" cried Mary. "Why, I never had a lesson in my life."
"That accounts for it. Let a lady alone, and she does everything more
gracefully than a man; but let some cad undertake to teach her, she
distrusts herself and imitates the snob. If you could only see the women
in Hyde Park who have been taught to ride, and compare them with
yourself!"
"I should learn humility."
"No; it would make you vain, if anything could."
"You seem inclined to do me that good turn. Come, pray, what do these
poor ladies do to offend you so?"
"I'll tell you. They square their shoulders vulgarly; they hold the reins
in their hands as if they were driving, and they draw the reins to their
waists in a coarse, absurd way.
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