yn't even put our noses through the gate of the quad," said
Lettice Talbot, in reply to a question from Honor, who chafed sorely
against the rule; "not unless we can get a special exeat from Miss
Cavendish, and that's only given once in a blue moon. It's no use
looking volcanic, Paddy! You'll have to grin and bear it."

"It's as bad as being in prison," grumbled Honor.

"Nonsense!" snapped Maisie Talbot. "You have cricket or tennis for
nearly two hours every afternoon. What more can you want? I'd rather
play games myself than do anything else."

"You can't expect to do just as you like at school," remarked Dorothy
Arkwright, who sometimes joined with Maisie in "squashing" Honor.

"The riding lessons begin next Thursday," said Lettice, with an attempt
at consolation. "They are very jolly. Mr. Townsend always takes the
class a trot over the Tor. You said you were to learn riding?"

"It's the one lesson I begged for," replied Honor. "I could have
dispensed with Latin, or German, or mathematics."

"Maisie and I are to begin this term; we're looking forward to it
tremendously!"

"You are lucky," said Pauline Reynolds enviously. "I'd give all I
possess to be going with you. I've never ridden anything more
interesting than a rocking-horse, or a donkey on the sands; and one
doesn't get much of a canter for six-pence!"

"I believe I'm horribly nervous, and I don't mind confessing it,"
declared Lettice. "The idea of being perched on a great, tall horse
makes me shake in my shoes. When it begins to trot I shall drop off--I
know I shall!"

"Don't be so silly!" protested Maisie. "You can stick on to Teddie at
home all right. Honor Fitzgerald, can you ride?"

"Bareback, if you like," said Honor. "Dermot and I used to take our old
pony and practise what we called 'circus performances'. Pixie quite
entered into the spirit of the thing, and would walk along gently while
we stood on his back."

"I hear Mr. Townsend brings very fresh horses," said Lettice, with a
shiver of apprehension. "I do hope he'll choose me a quiet one!"

"The fresher the better for me," said Honor. "I'm just longing for a
good gallop."

"But suppose it runs away?"

"Then it will have to take me with it. If it's any kind of a beast with
four legs, I'll undertake to make it fly."

"I heard that Mr. Townsend's horses aren't worth the fag of riding,"
observed Flossie Taylor, who had joined the group.

"There speaks the voice of envy! You wouldn't sa