and asked
a question without a word. Lizzie answered it as mutely, Jump it!
She was already a little short of breath, but she was ready to jump
anything that Lucinda Roanoke had jumped. Over went Lord George,
and she followed him almost without losing the stride of her horse.
Surely in all the world there was nothing equal to this! There was a
large grass field before them, and for a moment she came up alongside
of Lord George. "Just steady him before he leaps," said Lord George.
She nodded her assent, and smiled her gratitude. She had plenty of
breath for riding, but none for speaking. They were now very near to
Lucinda, and Sir Griffin, and Mrs. Carbuncle. "The pace is too good
for Mrs. Carbuncle's horse," said Lord George. Oh, if she could only
pass them, and get up to those men whom she saw before her! She knew
that one of them was her cousin Frank. She had no wish to pass them,
but she did wish that he should see her. In the next fence Lord
George spied a rail, which he thought safer than a blind hedge, and
he made for it. His horse took it well, and so did Lizzie's; but
Lizzie jumped it a little too near him, as he had paused an instant
to look at the ground. "Indeed, I won't do it again," she said,
collecting all her breath for an apology. "You are going admirably,"
he said, "and your horse is worth double the money." She was so glad
now that he had not spared for price in mounting her. Looking to the
right she could see that Mrs. Carbuncle had only just floundered
through the hedge. Lucinda was still ahead, but Sir Griffin was
falling behind, as though divided in duty between the niece and the
aunt. Then they passed through a gate, and Lord George stayed his
horse to hold it for her. She tried to thank him but he stopped her.
"Don't mind talking, but come along; and take it easy." She smiled
again, and he told himself that she was wondrous pretty. And then her
pluck was so good! And then she had four thousand a year! "Now for
the gap!--don't be in a hurry. You first, and I'll follow you to keep
off these two men. Keep to the left, where the other horses have
been." On they went, and Lizzie was in heaven. She could not quite
understand her feelings, because it had come to that with her that to
save her life she could not have spoken a word. And yet she was not
only happy but comfortable. The leaping was delightful, and her horse
galloped with her as though his pleasure was as great as her own.
She thought that s