Page:The time spirit; a romantic tale (IA timespiritromant00snaiiala).pdf/95

 in the knees. And the worse my mount the better for me, at least it reduces my chance of biting the tan."

"I expect you are a good deal better than you admit."

She was woman enough to ask why he should think so.

"You have the look of a goer," he said, as his eye sought involuntarily the long slender line of a frame all suppleness, delicacy, and power.

"Wait till tomorrow. In the meantime I warn you that you're almost certain to be disgraced in the sight of the town."

"Let's risk it anyway," said the young man delightedly.

In a very few minutes, however, Mary seriously regretted a rash promise. They had only gone a few yards farther, Jack still inclined to exult at the pact into which he had lured her, when both were brought up short by a sudden clear "Hello!" from the other side of the rails.

Jack had been hailed by a couple of long, lean young women with mouse-colored hair, on a couple of long, lean mouse-colored horses. They were followed at a respectful distance by a very smart groom on a good-looking chestnut. The set of the close-fitting black habits and the absolute ease of the wearers denoted the expert horse-woman.

"Hello, Madge—hello, Blanche!" The casual greeting was punctuated by a wave, equally casual, of the young man's hand.

As the two riders went slowly by they let their eyes rest upon Mary. The look she received did not amount to a stare, but it had a cool impertinence which somehow roused her fighting instinct. Unconsciously she