"And I did mean to have a dado of very fine, rich tiles to make a foundation of colour, you know; but you don't like tiles?" "Oh, but _I_ don't know anything about it, Mr. Kingston! You had better do what you said--furnish the other rooms, and leave your wife, when you get one, to choose the decorations of her own herself." "She _shall_ choose them herself. But, Miss Fetherstonhaugh--" "Rachel, my dear, your habit has come," said Mrs. Hardy, appearing at this interesting moment. "Oh, how do you do, Mr. Kingston? Pray forgive me for leaving you so long. I hope you have come to lunch? Oh, yes, you must stay to lunch, of course. We'll take you into town afterwards, when we go out to drive." Mr. Kingston stayed to lunch, and made himself very agreeable. But then he went into town by himself, and returned in an incredibly short space of time in riding costume, mounted on a powerful brown horse. During his absence, Rachel had put on her habit, and found that it fitted her beautifully; and Black Agnes had been caparisoned, and was pawing the gravel before the hall door. Mrs. Reade, magnificently attired for a series of state calls, had appeared upon the scene, and was regulating all these pleasant circumstances. "Now then, Mr. Kingston, you must only take her along quiet roads. And she is not to jump any fences when Ned is not with her." "Why, Ned?" inquired Mr. Kingston. "I am as learned in fences as Ned, don't you think?" "Oh, yes, I know all about that. But it is the look of the thing. You remember, Rachel, you are not to jump fences." "No, Beatrice, I won't." "Have a good gallop, my dear, and enjoy it," the little woman added. "I'll take care of mamma; and when we have done all our calls we will come and meet you." Mr. Kingston stepped jauntily to Black Agnes's side. He was an old steeplechase rider before he was a successful city merchant, and he looked ten years younger in his riding-dress. Rachel, with a radiant face, approached him, and laid her small foot on his proffered palm. In a moment she was up like a feather, and sitting square and light in her saddle like a practised horsewoman as she was; and all her attendants, groom included, looked up at her admiringly. Even Mrs. Hardy forgot the expense she had been put to. "The child certainly does look well on horseback," she remarked, resignedly, as Black Agnes's shining haunches disappeared round a clump of laurels. "What a figure she has, Beatrice!" "Oh, dear me, yes!" assented the younger matron pettishly. "Why didn't _we_ have figures like that!" Meanwhile, the black mare and the big brown horse paced out into the road, and for a little while the riders contented themselves with friendly glances at one another. Rachel was crimson with pride and bashfulness, looking lovely and riding beautifully, as she could not but know she was. Mr. Kingston, sharing some measure of her elation and excitement, was absorbed in looking at and admiring her.