By this time Bertha was frightened out of her wits. “But, Eddie, you’re not going to ride it--supposing something should happen. Oh, I wish you hadn’t bought him.” “He’s all right,” said Craddock. “If any one can ride him, I can--and, by Jove, I’m going to risk it. Why, if I bought him and then didn’t use him, I’d never hear the last of it.” “To please me, Eddie, don’t! What does it matter what people say? I’m so frightened. And now of all times you might do something to please me. It’s not often I ask you to do me a favour.” “Well, when you ask for something reasonable, I always try my best to do it--but really, after I’ve paid thirty-five pounds for a horse, I can’t cut him up for cat’s meat.” “That means you’ll always do anything for me so long as it doesn’t interfere with your own likes and dislikes.” “Ah, well, we’re all like that, aren’t we?... Come, come, don’t be nasty about it, Bertha.” He pinched her cheek good-naturedly--women, we all know, would like the moon if they could get it; and the fact that they can’t doesn’t prevent them from persistently asking for it. Edward sat down beside his wife, holding her hand. “Now, tell us what you’ve been up to to-day. Has any one been?” Bertha sighed deeply. She had absolutely no influence over her husband. No prayers, no tears would stop him from doing a thing he had set his mind on--however much she argued he always managed to make her seem in the wrong, and then went his way rejoicing. But she had her child now. “Thank God for that!” she murmured. Chapter XV Craddock went out on his new horse and returned triumphantly. “He was as quiet as a lamb,” he said. “I could ride him with my arms tied behind my back; and as to jumping--he takes a five-barred gate in his stride.” Bertha was a little angry with him for having caused her such terror, angry with herself also for troubling. “And it was rather lucky I had him to-day. Old Lord Philip Dirk was there, and he asked Branderton who I was. ‘You tell him,’ says he, ‘that it isn’t often I’ve seen a man ride as well as he does.’ You should see Branderton, he isn’t half glad at having let me take the beast for thirty-five quid. And Mr. Molson came up to me and said, ‘I knew that horse would get into your hands before long, you’re the only man in this part who can ride it--but if it don’t break your neck, you’ll be lucky.’” He recounted with great satisfaction the compliments paid to him. “We had a jolly good run to-day.... And how are you, dear, feeling comfy? Oh, I forgot to tell you--you know Rodgers, the huntsman, well, he said to me, ‘That’s a mighty fine hack you’ve got there, sir, but he takes some riding.’--‘I know he does,’ I said; ‘but I flatter myself I know a thing or two more than most horses.’ They all thought I should get rolled over before the day was out, but I just went slick at everything to show I wasn’t frightened.”