Olive came downstairs again, Christal sat in dignified solitude by
the parlour fire.

"Well," said Miss Rothesay, when she entered, "what have you to say to
me, my dear child?"

Christal drew back a little at the familiar word and manner, as though
she did not quite like it. But she only said, "Oh, it is a mere trifle;
I am obliged to mention it, because I understand Miss Vanbrugh left my
money matters under your care until I came of age."

"Certainly; you know it was by your consent, Christal."

"O yes, because it will save me trouble. Well, all I wanted to say was,
that I wish to keep a horse."

"To keep a horse!"

"Certainly; what harm can there be in that? I long to ride about at my
own will; go to the meets in the forest; even to follow the hounds. I am
my own mistress, and I choose to do it," said Christal in rather a high
tone.

"You cannot, indeed, my dear," answered Olive mildly. "Think of all the
expenses it would entail--expenses far beyond your income."

"I myself am the best judge of that."

"Not quite. Because, Christal, you are still very young, and have little
knowledge of the world. Besides, to tell you the plain truth--must I?"

"Certainly; of all things I hate deceit and concealment." Here Christal
stopped, blushed a little; and half-turning aside, hid further in her
bosom a little ornament which occasionally peeped out--a silver cross
and beads. Then she said in a somewhat less angry tone, "You are right;
tell me all your mind."

"I think, then, that though your income is sufficient to give you
independence, it cannot provide you with luxuries. Also," she continued,
speaking very gently, "it seems to me scarcely right, that a young girl
like you, without father or brother, should go riding and hunting in the
way you purpose."

"That still is my own affair--no one has a right to control me." Olive
was silent. "Do you mean to say _you_ have? Because you are in some sort
my guardian, are you to thwart me in this manner? I will not endure it."

And there rose in her the same fierce spirit which had startled Olive
on the first night of the girl's arrival at Woodford Cottage, and which,
something to her surprise, had lain dormant ever since, covered
over with the light-hearted trifling which formed Christal's outward
character. "What am I to do?" thought Olive, much troubled. "How am I to
wrestle with this girl? But I will do it--if only for Meliora's sake.
Christal," she said affectionatel