Part 8 (2/2)
”Neither I am; I have not a good seat, and you know it! I am not going to make a fool of myself on compulsion! I know what I can do, and what I can't do.”
”I wish I had the chance!” murmured Walter, as if to himself, but so that Lufa heard.
”You can ride?” said Lufa, with pleased surprise.
”Why not?” returned Walter. ”Every Englishman should ride.”
”Yes; every Englishman should swim; but Englishmen are drowned every day!”
”That is as often because they can swim, but have not Mr. Sefton's prudence.”
”You mustn't think my cousin afraid of Red Racket!” she returned.
”I don't. He doesn't look like it!”
”Do you really wish to ride the roan?”
”Indeed I do!”
”I will order him round,” she said, rising.
Walter did not quite enjoy her consenting so easily; had she no fear for him of the risk Mr. Sefton would not run?
”She wants me to cut a good figure!” he said to himself, and went to get ready.
I have no deed of prowess on Walter's part to record. The instant he was in the saddle, Red Racket recognized a master.
”You can't have ridden him before?” questioned Lufa.
”I never saw him till this morning.”
”He likes you, I suppose!” she said.
As they returned, the other ladies being in front, and the groom some distance behind, Walter brought his roan side by side with Lufa's horse, and said--
”You know Browning's 'Last Ride Together'?”
”Yes,” she answered, with a faint blush; ”but this is not our last ride!
It is our first! Why didn't you tell me? We might have had many rides together!”
”Promise me a last one,” he said.
”How can I? How should I know it was the last?”
”Promise,” he persisted, ”that if ever you see just one last ride possible, you will let me know.”
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