"At last, knowing that she liked the hunt, I asked her if she was going
to the meet on the following Saturday, saying that I intended to follow,
having been offered a horse. With a steely ring to her voice, and a
further brightening of the eyes, she said: 'You are a stout little
sportsman, Marmy. Yes, I am going on Major Karney's big horse, Carbine.'
"Valiant looked up, half sneering, half doubtful, I thought, and
rejoined: 'Carbine is a valuable horse, and the fences are stiff in the
Garston country.'
"She smiled gravely, then, with her eyes fixed on her husband, said:
'Carbine is a perfect gentleman. He will do what I ask him. I have ridden
him.'
"'The devil you have!' he replied.
"'I am sure,' said I, as I hoped, bravely, and not a little
enthusiastically, 'that Carbine would take any fence you asked him.'
"'Or not, as the case might be. Thank you, Marmy, for the compliment,'
she said.
"'A Triton among minnows,' remarked Valiant, not entirely under his
breath; 'horses obey, and students admire, and there is no end to her
greatness.'
"'There is an end to everything, Edward,' she remarked a shade sadly and
quietly.
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