’Tell me what it is,—­and I will promise never to try it with you.’  Kitty’s handsome face darkened.

’Can you reason back from particular cases to general principles?’ she said.

‘You always want a great many cases to form an induction,’ said Rollo, ‘I thought you would shirk the question.’

‘Shirk? not I?’ said Miss Fisher.  ’I was just going to give you an instance.  That girl, who has played coy all summer, and wouldn’t ride with a man here because she must have her own horse, forsooth; suddenly waives her scruples in favour of another man, and finds she can ride his horse, without difficulty.’

Wych Hazel drew up her graceful figure to its full height, but she said not a word.  Riding at ease, as usual, Rollo spoke in a voice as clear as it was cold.

’Only a coward, Miss Fisher, strikes a man—­or a woman—­whose hands are bound.  Good evening.’

Lifting his hat with his most curt salutation, Rollo seized the bridle of the brown mare and made her understand what was expected of her, his own bay at the instant springing forward with a bound.  Miss Kitty was left in the distance.  Neither was she mounted well enough to follow if she had had the inclination.  The run this time was in good earnest, till they drew rein again near the gate of Chickaree.

‘I knew I could trust you to keep your seat,’ said Rollo then lightly to his companion, ‘even if I was unceremonious.’

‘And I—­’ That sentence was never finished.  This last run had rather shaken the colour out of cheeks than into them.  But Hazel had a good deal of real bravery about her; and in a minute more she turned again to her companion.

‘Thank you, Mr. Rollo,’ she said, gravely.  ’I think you are a true knight.’

‘You might as well talk reason to Vixen as to Kitty Fisher,’ muttered Rollo.  But in another minute he changed his tone.

‘Are you tired?’

‘I hardly know.  Which should prove that I am not.’

‘I am afraid it don’t prove that at all.’

He was silent till they came to the door where they had mounted in the afternoon.  Dismounting then, and coming to Wych Hazel’s side to do the same service for her, Mr. Rollo lingered a little about the preliminaries; as if he liked them.

‘Mrs. Bywank tells me,’ he said, ’that you have been eager all summer for the riding you could not have.  You must forgive her,—­she cannot help talking of you.  Will you do me the honour to let Jeannie Deans stand in your stable for the present, and ride her with whomsoever you please to honour in that way.’

There was a little inarticulate cry of joy at that,—­then timidly,

‘But, Mr. Rollo——­’

‘Well?’ said he, softly.

’You might want her.  And—­if I rode with other people, they might take me where you would not like her to go.  Will you let me ride her sometimes just by myself?’ she said, glancing at him and instantly away again.