art," he said, "I really think I'm the proper person
to ride the grey. If you're to be the prize, well it can't make any
more talk, my riding, and, of course, it will give me a sort of right to
you."

"But--but--you mustn't ride Boatman, you mustn't--you mustn't--you
mustn't. He baulks, and he runs down his fences, and he pulls,
and--and--oh, my darling! you mustn't ride Boatman!"

"What a list of crimes," he said, smiling at my vehemence. "Still, I
have ridden a horse or two in my life, and I'm inclined to think I 'm
equal to this one. He can beat anything, your father tells me, this side
of the Dividing Range. I had a trial this morning, and I 'm inclined to
think the old gentleman hasn't put too high a value on him. Boatman's
an out-and-outer, once one gets on good terms with him. And there 's the
difficulty no one can manage him."

I knew then it was little good my speaking; dearly as he loved me, nay,
for my sake even, he was determined to ride Boatman. And after all,
looked at from his point of view, I think he was right.

Stanton's Vixen was the only horse in the running, the only one in
the least likely to win, and if I was to be the prize, as my father
insisted, not once but twenty times, then, indeed, it was very necessary
that our horse should be well ridden, and I knew, and he knew, nobody
could do that so well as Paul. Then I don't know what dark presentiments
filled my mind, but something told me he should not ride in that race,
something told me all was not fair and above board, and with all my
strength, with all my powers of persuasion, I tried to stop him. I
coaxed him, and he only stroked my hair fondly, told me I had nice dark
eyes and pretty hair, and said if I made myself so sweet and dear, it
only showed him all the more clearly I must be won by fair means or
foul. Are you smiling, Hope? Ah, my dear, it is three-and-thirty years
ago, and the remembrance of days like those is all I have. Then I
stormed and raged, every unkind term I could think of I heaped on him,
and that is like a woman too, I think--when all other means fail she
tries anger.

Did he think, I asked, I was so slight a thing as to be bought and sold
in that manner? Did he think that my father could give me away in that
way, as if I were a horse or a bullock; and then, of course, just as I
would have given anything to be dignified and grand, I spoiled it all,
for my voice failed, and I burst into tears.

He was good to me! oh,