第72章 CHAPTER XVI HOSPITALITY WITHOUT GRUDGING(1)

By arrangement made the previous evening Jane was awake before the family was astir and in Nora's hands preparing for a morning ride with Larry, who was to give her her first lesson in equitation.

"Your habit will be too big for me, Nora, I am afraid," she said.

"Habit!" cried Nora. "My pants, you mean. You can pull them up, you know. There they are.""Pants!" gasped Jane. "Pants! Nora, pants! Do you mean to say you wear these things where all the men will see you?" Even in the seclusion of her bedroom Jane's face at the thought went a fiery red. Nora laughed at her scornfully. "Oh, but I can't possibly go out in these before Larry. I won't ride at all. Haven't you a skirt, a regular riding habit?"But Nora derided her scruples. "Why, Jane, we all wear them here.""Does Kathleen?"

"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. "Iknow 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 Iwould 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.

"This is Polly," said Larry. "She has taught us all to ride, and though she has lost her shape a bit, she has still 'pep' enough to decline to take a dare.""What do I do?" said Jane, gazing fearfully at the fat and shapeless Polly.

"There is just one rule in learning to ride," said Larry, "step on and stick there. Polly will look after the rest.""Step on--it is easy to say, but--"

"This way," said Nora. She seized hold of the horn of the saddle, put her foot into the stirrup and sprang upon Polly's back. "Oh, there's where the pants come in," she added as her dress caught on to the rear of the saddle. "Now up you go. Make up your mind you are going to DO it, not going to TRY."A look of serious determination came into Jane's face, a look that her friends would have recognised as the precursor of a resolute and determined attempt to achieve the thing in hand. She seized the horn of the saddle, put her foot into the stirrup and "stepped on."The riding lesson was an unqualified success, though for some reason, known only to herself, Polly signalised the event by promptly running away immediately her head was turned homeward, and coming back down the lane at a thundering gallop.

"Hello!" cried Nora, running out to meet them. "Why, Jane, you have been fooling us all along. You needn't tell me this is your first ride.""My very first," said Jane, "but I hope not my last.""But, my dear," said Mrs. Gwynne, who had also come out to see the return, "you are doing famously.""Am I?" cried Jane, her face aglow and her eyes shining. "I think it is splendid. Shall we ride again to-day, Larry?""Right away after breakfast and all day long if you like. You are a born horsewoman, Jane.""Weren't you afraid when Polly ran off with you like that?"inquired Nora.

"Afraid? I didn't know there was any danger. Was there any?"inquired Jane.

"Not a bit," said Nora, "so long as you kept your head.""But there really was no danger, was there, Larry?" insisted Jane.

"None at all, Jane," said Nora, "I assure you. Larry got rattled when he saw you tear off in that wild fashion, but I knew you would be all right. Come in; breakfast is ready.""And so am I," said Jane. "I haven't been so hungry I don't know when.""Why, she's not plain-looking after all," said Nora to her mother as Jane strode manlike off to her room.