to mount, and Hugh was approaching to put her up, she called the groom, seemed just to touch his hand, and was in the saddle in a moment, foot in stirrup, and skirt falling over it.  Hugh thought she was carrying out the behaviour of yesterday, and was determined to ask her what it meant.  The little Arab began to rear and plunge with pride, as soon as she felt her mistress on her back; but she seemed as much at home as if she had been on the music-stool, and patted her arching neck, talking to her in the same tone almost in which she had addressed the flowers.

“Be quiet, Fatty dear; you’re frightening Mr. Sutherland.”

But Hugh, seeing the next moment that she was in no danger, sprang into his saddle.  Away they went, Fatima infusing life and frolic into the equine as Euphra into the human portion of the cavalcade.  Having reached the common, out of sight of the house, Miss Cameron, instead of looking after Harry, lest he should have too much exercise, scampered about like a wild girl, jumping everything that came in her way, and so exciting Harry’s pony, that it was almost more than he could do to manage it, till at last Hugh had to beg her to go more quietly, for Harry’s sake.  She drew up alongside of them at once, and made her mare stand as still as she could, while Harry made his first essay upon a little ditch.  After crossing it two or three times, he gathered courage; and setting his pony at a larger one beyond, bounded across it beautifully.

“Bravo!  Harry!” cried both Euphra and Hugh.  Harry galloped back, and over it again; then came up to them with a glow of proud confidence on his pale face.

“You’ll be a horseman yet, Harry,” said Hugh.

“I hope so,” said Harry, in an aspiring tone, which greatly satisfied his tutor.  The boy’s spirit was evidently reviving.  Euphra must have managed him ill.  Yet she was not in the least effeminate herself.  It puzzled Hugh a good deal.  But he did not think about it long; for Harry cantering away in front, he had an opportunity of saying to Euphra: 

“Are you offended with me, Miss Cameron?”

“Offended with you!  What do you mean?  A girl like me offended with a man like you?”

She looked two and twenty as she spoke; but even at that she was older than Hugh.  He, however, certainly looked considerably older than he really was.

“What makes you think so?” she added, turning her face towards him.

“You would not speak to me when we came home yesterday.”

“Not speak to you?—­I had a little headache—­and perhaps I was a little sullen, from having been in such bad company all the morning.”

“What company had you?” asked Hugh, gazing at her in some surprise.

“My own,” answered she, with a lovely laugh, thrown full in his face.  Then after a pause:  “Let me advise you, if you want to live in peace, not to embark on that ocean of discovery.”