ss there."

Still the same weary "business" which he never explained or talked
about, yet which always seemed to rise up like a bugbear on their
pleasures, until Agatha was sick of the sound of the word!

She turned away, and put herself altogether under Mrs. Dugdale's care to
be equipped for the ride.

Anne Valery, coming in with her quiet common sense, succeeded in making
up the party, which, with one exception, Harrie had left to make itself
up according to its own discretion. When Mrs. Harper descended, she
found all settled for the spending of a day at Corfe Castle, in picnic
style--glorious and free--with a moonlight canter home in the evening.
No one was omitted except the Squire, who with considerable dignity
declined such _al fresco_ amusements; and Anne Valery, who promised to
peep in upon them as she passed the Castle on her way to her own house,
after spending a few hours with Elizabeth.

Agatha had never been on horseback since she was married. It made her
feel like a girl again, and brought back all the wild spirits of her
youth, now repressed in propriety by her changed life--until sometimes
she hardly knew herself, or fancied she was growing into that object of
her former scorn, an ordinary young lady. She cast the subdued and meek
"Mrs. Locke Harper" to the winds, and dashed wildly back for this day at
least into "Agatha Bowen."

Her husband, putting her on her horse, with many injunctions, was
surprised to see her give him a careless nod and dart off delightedly,
as if she and the grey mare had wings. The Dugdales followed, a wild
pair, for Marmaduke was quite another being on horseback.

"Look at him, Agatha,"--and Harrie's laugh ringing on the wind caused
the mild grey mare to seem rather restless in her mind. "Did you think
my Duke could ride as he does? He never looks so well as on horseback.
He is a perfect Thessalian!"

Agatha was amused to find classic lore in Harrie Dugdale, and she gave
most cordial admiration to Duke. "He is a magnificent rider; he sits the
horse just as if he were born to it."

"Bless him! so he was. He rode his father's horses at four years old,
and went hunting at fourteen. And he has such a beautiful temper, and
such a firm will besides--that he could manage the wildest brute in the
county. See there!"

White-star had become rather obstreperous, showing his spirit; his
master carelessly lent down, giving him a box on each ear, just as if
the stately blood horse