“It is rather hot,” I answered, glancing at a sky whose colour would have figured well in a view of Palmyra. “But I am enjoying my ride very much.” “I could give you several jumps if you’d care about them. There are some good hedges yonder,” and she pointed with her whip to the plains beneath. “I am very well satisfied,” I replied. “Let me see! There’s the railway station, and yonder’s the hot road I trudged along yesterday. The view from here is very pretty, but I fancy a ride would be more enjoyable in the cool of the evening. Hallo! are we to go down that hill?” “Yes. Keep a firm hold of your reins.” We turned into an abominably steep lane. I shoved my feet well out into the stirrups, and uttered no observation whatever until we had reached the bottom. Then I exclaimed, “Such a descent is enough to try the nerves of a mule.” “We shall meet with nothing but level roads now,” said she. “Are you for a gallop?” “No. Let’s have a talk.... How superbly you ride, Theresa.” “Do I?” “You make me feel as inelegant as a Hindoo, sitting like a tailor on an elephant’s head.” “Have you ridden with Conny?” “No. I don’t think she rides, does she?” “A little. She is not like me: she is womanly in her tastes and aversions.” “Oh, don’t say that!” I exclaimed, not quite sure whether she meant to compliment herself or her cousin. “She would never have played you such a trick as I did.” “Impossible to say. Had she misjudged the motive of my visit to Grove End--imagined, as you did, that I had come to make love to her for the sake of her money--oh, Theresa! she might have poisoned me!” “Tell me, do you think it is proper that a girl should be made love to only for her money?” “Certainly not. I consider it insulting.” “I acted wrongly in not giving myself time to find out what sort of a man you were, before I began my tricks. But then it would have been too late; for after you had seen me in my natural capacity, as the menagerie people say, shamming would have been ridiculous.” “Don’t let us talk about anything that vexes us, Theresa. Yesterday is dead and gone, and our acquaintance dates from this morning. But there is one view of the question of marrying for money which ought to be considered: Suppose a fellow falls in love with a girl who has a fortune? doesn’t he run a great risk of being misjudged?” “If a girl has any sense, she will soon see whether he is fond of her or not.” I shook my head. “Some men flatter so well, feign so skilfully, appeal so dexterously to a woman’s weaknesses, that it needs more clear-sightedness than most girls possess to divine either their real feelings or their real motives.” Her fine eyes sparkled as she answered, “That is why I hate flattery. Honest people won’t flatter. I always look upon a compliment as the mask of some sentiment which would be very offensive were it exposed.”