midnight
I kissed my beauty , peering at his black - mottled skin , which is like Allingborough Heath in the twilight . The smell of his new saddle and bridle-leather was sweeter than a garden to me . The man handed me a large riding-whip mounted with silver . I longed to jump up and ride till midnight . Then mama and papa came out and read the note and looked , at my darling little cob , and my sisters saw him and kissed me , for they are not envious girls . The most distressing thing was that we had not a riding - habit in the family . I was ready to wear any sort .