"You are welcome, I am sure--for I shall be glad to be relieved of half the burden. Ladies are troublesome creatures--particularly this one. Here, Maria, the hat will not hurt you now--run off with it--and try and persuade Miss Lesly to wear it, if you can." "It has raised dust enough to make you doubt it, certainly," she replied, running gaily up-stairs, with her habit tucked over her arm. There was some little difficulty to find Mabel, however, for she was gone to her own room, and no one was anxious to climb up to the top of the house to fetch her. At length, however, by dint of loud calls at the bottom of the stairs, she was made to know she was wanted. When, by this means, she was brought down, she could hardly understand the combined movement which had so soon produced all that was required for her enjoyment of the ride--but putting on the habit as quickly as she could, and tying her black veil on the old hat, she hastened, without much question, to gratify the sisters, who scarcely allowed her time to snatch up her gloves, and tie on her hat, before they hurried her down stairs. Maria could not check her desire to prevent her studying her appearance, since that might render her so much more charming in the eyes of her esquire--but she excused herself by thinking that she might get plenty of admirers without taking Mr. Stokes. Could she have guessed the powers of her own fascinations on his heart, Mabel might have aided her--but as she did not--nothing destroyed the faultless grace of her easy movements, which made everything suit her--however unlikely it seemed--and the look of pleasure and gratitude with which she regarded the party, was quite sufficient to nullify the foil of an ill-fitting habit, and a dust-worn and tumbled hat. "Thank you," said Hargrave, as he passed her, to hand Caroline and Selina down. And Mr. Stokes could scarcely withdraw his eyes from her, as he walked by her side to the hall, not talkative, as usual, but in silent observation. "Now," said Hargrave, as the horses drew up, "I have only been able to hire three gentle horses. This beautiful creature is high-spirited, and very difficult to manage," he said, laying his hand on the neck of one of the horses, as he pawed the ground, in rather a threatening manner; "but I thought that you would not mind him, Caroline--for you care for nothing in horse-flesh." Caroline, however, was perverse, and chose that day to be timid. Indeed, the idea of Mabel's sly rivalry, as she called it, haunted her like a phantom--and she thought it certain, that if one staid behind, it would be she, so that she insisted on choosing the very quietest horse. Maria was already mounted by Mr. Stokes, whose services she had demanded--and Selina was always timid. Hargrave bit his lip. "Oh, I am not in the least frightened," said Mabel; "I never am timid." "But you have not been on horseback so long," suggested Hargrave. "No--but never mind me."