A  TEBBIBLE  TEMPTATION.  16

She  promised  well  at  first.  We  put  her  on  my  chestnut
mare,  and  she  showed  lots  of  courage,  so  she  soon  learned
to  ride ;  but  she  kicked,  even  down  there."

«  Kicked  —  whom  ?  "

"Kicked  aU.  round.  I  mean,  showed  temper.  And,
when  she  got  to  London,  and  had  ridden  a  few  times  in
the  Park,  and  had  swallowed  flattery,  there  was  no  hold-
ing her.  I  stood  her  cheek  for  a  good  while,  but  at  last
I  told  the  servants  they  must  not  turn  her  out,  but  they
could  keep  her  out.  They  sided  with  me  for  once.  She
had  ridden  over  them  as  welL  The  first  time  she  went
out  they  bolted  the  doors,  and  handed  her  boxes  up  the
area  steps."

"How  did  she  take  that  ? "

"Easier  than  we  expected.  She  said,  'Lucky  for  you
beggars  that  I'm  a  lady,  or  I'd  break  every  d— — d  window
in  the  house.' "

This  caused  a  laugh.  It  subsided.  The  historian
resumed.
"Next  day  she  cooled,  and  wrote  a  letter."

"To  you?"

"2fo ;  to  my  groom.  Would  you  like  to  see  it  ?  It  is
a  curiosity."

He  sent  one  of  the  club  waiters  for  his  servant,
and  his  servant  for  his  desk,  and  produced  the  let-
ter.
"There!"  said  Vandeleur.  "She  looks  like  a
queen,  and  steps  like  an  empress,  and  this  is  how
she  writes.
DEAB  JOBGE,  —  1  have  got  the  sak  an'  praps  your  turn  nex.
dear  Jorge  he  alwaies  promise  me  the  grey  oss,  which  now
an  OSS  is  life  an  death  to  me.  If  you  was  to  ast  him  to  lend
me  the  grey  he  wouldn't  refuse  you.
Yours  respecfully,

Rhoda  Sohebset.
16  A  TBERIBLE  TEMPTATION.
