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           Theleginitspolishedblackboothookedroundthesaddlewasunhooked,andtheladysattrulyonthesideofhersaddle,herglovedhandsextendedimperiously.

           "Father!Besokindastohelpmedismount!"

           Hereacheduptoputhishandsaroundherwaist,herhandsonhisshoulders,andswungherlightlydown;themomentherheelstouchedthegroundhereleasedher,tookhermount’sreinsinhishandandwalkedon,theladybesidehim,matchinghisstrideeffortlessly.

           "WillyouwintheHunting,MissCarmichael?"heaskedintonesofutterindifference.

           Shepouted;shewasyoungandverybeautiful,andthatcuriousimpersonalqualityofhispiquedher."Ihopetowin,butIcan’tbesure.MissHopetonandMrs.AnthonyKingbothcompete.However,IshallwintheDressage,soifIdon’twintheHuntingIshan’trepine."

           Shespokewithbeautifullyroundedvowels,andwiththeoddlystiltedphraseologyofayoungladysocarefullyrearedandeducatedtherewasnotatraceofwarmthoridiomlefttocolorhervoice.AshespoketoherFatherRalph’sownspeechbecamemorepear-shaped,andquitelostitsbeguilinghintofIrishness;asifshebroughtbacktohimatimewhenhe,too,hadbeenlikethis.Meggiefrowned,puzzledandaffectedbytheirlightbutguardedwords,notknowingwhatthechangeinFatherRalphwas,onlyknowingtherewasachange,andnotonetoherliking.SheletgoFrank’shand,andindeedithadbecomedifficultforthemtocontinuewalkingabreast.

           BythetimetheycametoawidepuddleFrankhadfallenbehindthem.