n insecurity. No sooner had Helen landed on the other
side, than she fled homewards as if a tin kettle were tied to her tail.
The speed at which we dashed through the fragrant summer air completely
took away Kitty's breath, and the poor creature appeared more dead than
alive by the time I dismounted, trembling myself in every limb for her
safety as well as my own, at the garden gate.

However, next morning brought a renewed delight in existence to both
Kitty and me, and our night's sleep had made us forget our agitation
and peril. After breakfast I introduced her to the poultry yard, and
she adapted herself to her new home with a tact and good humour most
edifying to behold. Months passed away. Kitty had made herself a nest in
a place, the selection of which did equal honour to her head and heart,
and she gladdened my eyes one fine morning by appearing with a lovely
brood of chicks around her. Who so proud as the young mother? She
exhibited them to me, and after I had duly admired them, used to carry
them off to a nursery of her own, which she had established among the
tussocks just outside the stable door. Mrs. C---- had impressed upon me
that Kitty could be safely trusted to manage her own affairs. No fear of
her dragging her fluffy babies out among the wet grass too early in
the morning, or losing them among the flax bushes on the hill-side. No:
Kitty came of a race who were model mothers, and was to be left to take
care of herself and her chickens.

About a week after Kitty had first shown me her large, small family,
a friend of ours arrived unexpectedly to stop the night. Next morning,
when he was going away, he apologised for asking leave to mount at the
stables, saying his led horse was so vicious, and the one he was riding
so gay, that it was quite possible their legs might find themselves
within the verandah, or do some mischief to the young shrubs which were
the pride and joy of my heart. This gentleman rode beautifully, and
I used to like to see the courage and patience with which he always
conquered the most unruly horse.

"We will come up to the stable and see you mount," I cried, seizing my
hat. Of course every one followed my lead, and it was to the sound of
mingled jeers and compliments that poor Mr. T---- mounted his fiery
steed, and seized hold of the leading rein of his pack-horse. But
this animal had no intention of taking his departure with propriety or
tranquillity: he pranced and shied, flinging