III. A Girl on Horseback—Conversation

           

           Thesluggishdaybegantobreak.Evenitspositionterrestriallyisoneoftheelementsofanewinterest,andfornoparticularreasonsavethattheincidentofthenighthadoccurredthereOakwentagainintotheplantation.Lingeringandmusinghere,heheardthestepsofahorseatthefootofthehill,andsoonthereappearedinviewanauburnponywithagirlonitsback,ascendingbythepathleadingpastthecattle-shed.Shewastheyoungwomanofthenightbefore.Gabrielinstantlythoughtofthehatshehadmentionedashavinglostinthewind;possiblyshehadcometolookforit.Hehastilyscannedtheditchandafterwalkingabouttenyardsalongitfoundthehatamongtheleaves.Gabrieltookitinhishandandreturnedtohishut.Hereheensconcedhimself,andpeepedthroughtheloopholeinthedirectionoftherider’sapproach.

           Shecameupandlookedaroundthenontheothersideofthehedge.Gabrielwasabouttoadvanceandrestorethemissingarticlewhenanunexpectedperformanceinducedhimtosuspendtheactionforthepresent.Thepath,afterpassingthecowshed,bisectedtheplantation.Itwasnotabridle-pathmerelyapedestrian’strack,andtheboughsspreadhorizontallyataheightnotgreaterthansevenfeetabovetheground,whichmadeitimpossibletorideerectbeneaththem.Thegirl,whoworenoriding-habit,lookedaroundforamoment,asiftoassureherselfthatallhumanitywasoutofview,thendexterouslydroppedbackwardsflatuponthepony’sback,herheadoveritstail,herfeetagainstitsshoulders,andhereyestothesky.

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