Canada -- Fiction; World War, 1914-1918 -- Canada -- Fiction
“Of course she does, and Mrs. Waring-Gaunt, and everybody.”
“Oh, she might, but I am sure your mother would not.”
Nora shouted joyfully. “Well, that is true, she never has, but then she
has never ridden out here. Put them on, hurry up, your legs are straight
enough, your knees don't knock.”
“Oh, Nora, they are just terrible,” said Jane, almost in tears. “I know
I will just squat down if Larry looks at me.”
“Why should he look at you? Don't you ever let on but that you have worn
them often, and he will never think of looking at you.”
In face of many protests Jane was at length arrayed in her riding
apparel.
“Why, you look perfectly stunning,” said Nora. “You have got just the
shape for them. Pull them up a little. There, that is better. Now step
out and let me see you.”
Jane walked across the room and Nora rocked in laughter. “Oh, Nora, I
will just take them off. You are as mean as you can be. I will pull them
off.”
“Not a bit,” said Nora, still laughing, “only stretch your legs a bit
when you walk. Don't mince along. Stride like a man. These men have
had all the fun in the matter of clothes. I tell you it was one of the
proudest moments of my life when I saw my own legs walking. Now step
out and swing your arms. There, you are fine, a fine little chap, Jane,
round as a barrel, and neat as a ballet dancer, although I never saw one
except in magazines.”
Trim and neat Jane looked, the riding suit showing off the beautiful
lines of her round, shapely figure. Shrinking, blushing, and horribly
conscious of her pants, Jane followed Nora from her bedroom. A swift
glance she threw around the room. To her joy it was empty but for Mrs.
Gwynne, who was ready with a big glass of rich milk and a slice of
home-made bread and delicious butter.
“Good morning, my dear,” said Mrs. Gwynne, kissing her. “You will need
something before you ride. You will have breakfast after your return.”
Jane went close to her and stood beside her, still blushing. “Oh, thank
you,” she cried, “I am really hungry already. I hope I won't get killed.
I never was on a horse before, you know.”
“Oh, never fear, Lawrence is very careful. If it were Nora now I would
not be so sure about you, but Lawrence is quite safe.”
At this point Larry came in. “Well, Jane, all ready? Good for you. I
like a girl that is always on time.”
“How do you like her pants, Larry?” said Nora, wickedly.
“Perfectly splendiferous,” cried Larry.
“Oh, you mean thing, Nora,” cried Jane, dropping hurriedly into a chair
with scarlet face and indignant eyes.
“Come along, Jane, old chap, don't mind her. Those pants never looked
so well before, I assure you. We are going to have a great time. I
guarantee that in a few minutes you will be entirely oblivious of such
trivial things as mere pants.”
They all passed out into the front yard to see Jane mount and take her
first lesson.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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