He looked up in surprise, then quietly laid it on the table, as he replied, "Perhaps I did not speak, as I have rather unfortunate news for you, 'Lady Emily'--Mrs. Linchmore's riding horse--has gone dead lame." "Lame!" exclaimed Mrs. Linchmore in a vexatious tone of voice. "It must be something very sudden then; she was perfectly well the last time I rode her, there was not the slightest symptom of lameness about her then." "That was some time ago," rejoined her husband. "Only a few days, or a week at the utmost. What is the matter with her? or what has caused the lameness?" "A nail has been accidentally run into her foot in shoeing. There has been great carelessness no doubt." "It is always the case that whenever I wish to ride or drive something happens to prevent me, for the last two or three months I have noticed it. What is the use of having servants if one cannot trust them, or horses either, when they are never fit to be ridden?" "There are other horses in the stable, Isabella, would carry you just as well as Lady Emily, but you never will ride them." Mrs. Linchmore was not exactly a timid horsewoman, but she was not courageous enough to ride a strange horse, whose temper and habits she was unacquainted with. She had ridden the mare constantly for the last five years, and knew her temper well, and after the first canter was over all nervousness was gone, and she could talk and laugh and ride without fear, or the slight timidity she might have felt at first starting. "I promised to ride into Standale with Mr. Vavasour," said she. "Shall I order the bay to be brought round for you, Isabella? You will find him even quieter than Lady Emily." "You know I hate strange horses, Mr. Linchmore. I wonder at your proposing such a thing. After being accustomed to one horse for so long, I should be nervous." "I will ride with you with pleasure," was the reply, "and give you confidence if I can, and see no accident happens." But no, her husband's escort was very different to the promised pleasure she had looked forward to with Mr. Vavasour. "Thank you," replied she coldly, "but I shall stay at home, and give up all idea of riding until my horse gets well." "Very well, Vavasour can ride into Standale with me if he chooses, I am starting for it in half an hour. By-the-by, what report did Bernard give of Miss Neville this morning?" "Nothing very much the matter, I believe," said she carelessly, "simply a sprain caused by some folly or another." "I am glad it is nothing more serious; she looks a delicate girl." "Some people always look so. I believe she is strong enough; we were always from the first led to expect a rather fragile person." This was an unwise speech of Mrs. Linchmore's, as it recalled Mrs. Elrington at once to her husband's mind, and he asked-- "Have you received any reply to the letter you wrote to Mrs. Elrington, Isabella?"