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g　and　everybody　about　it。　　Nora　is　such　a　splendid　correspondent；　you　see。〃

〃Well；　dear　child；　we　hope　the　days　you　spend　here　will　always　be　a　very　bright　spot　in　your　life；〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne　as　they　entered　the　living　room。

The　next　few　days　saw　the　beginning　of　the　realisation　of　that　hope；　for　of　all　the　bright　spots　in　Jane's　life　none　shone　with　a　brighter　and　more　certain　lustre　than　the　days　of　her　visit　to　Lakeside　Farm。



CHAPTER　XVI

HOSPITALITY　WITHOUT　GRUDGING


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。　　〃I　know　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　I　would　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　onit　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。

〃Plain…looking？〃　exclaimed　her　mother。　　〃I　never　thought　her　plain…　looking。　　She　has　that　beauty　that　shines　from　within；　a　beauty　that　never　fades；　but　grows　with　every　passing　year。〃

A　council　of　war　was　called　by　Nora　immediately　after　breakfast；　at　which　plans　were　discussed　for　the　best　employment　of　the　three　precious　days　during　which　the　visitors　were　to　be　at　the　ranch。　There　were　so　many　things　to　be　done　that　unless　some　system　were　adopted　valuable　time　would　be　wasted。

〃It　appears　to　me；　Miss　Nora；〃　said　Dr。　Brown　after　a　somewhat　prolonged　discussion；　〃that　to　accomplish　all　the　things　that　you　have　suggested；　and　they　all　seem　not　only　delightful　but　necessary；　we　shall　require　at　least　a　month　of　diligent　application。〃

〃At　the　very　least；〃　cried　Nora。

〃So　what　are　we　going　to　do？〃　said　the　doctor。

It　was　finally　decided　that　the　Browns　should　extend　their　stay　at　Lakeside　House　for　a　week；　after　which　the　doctor　should　proceed　to　the　coast　and　be　met　on　his　return　at　Banff　by　Jane；　with　Nora　as　her　guest。

〃Then　that's　all　settled；〃　said　Larry。　　〃Now　what's　for　to…day？〃

As　if　in　answer　to　that　question　a　honk　of　a　motor　car　was　heard　outside。　　Nora　rushed　to　the　door；　saying；　〃That's　Mrs。　Waring…　Gaunt。〃　　But　she　returned　hastily　with　heightened　colour。

〃Larry；〃　she　said；　〃it's　that　Mr。　Wakeham。〃

〃Wakeham；〃　cried　Larry。　　〃What's　got　him　up　so　early；　I　wonder？〃　with　a　swift　look　at　Jane。

〃I　wonder；〃　said　Nora；　giving　Jane　a　little　dig。

〃I　thought　I　would　just　run　up　and　see　if　you　had　all　got　home　safely　last　night；〃　they　heard　his　great　voice　booming　outside　to　Larry。

〃My；　but　he　is　anxious；〃　said　Nora。

〃But　who　is　he；　Nora？〃　inquired　her　mother。

〃A　friend　of　Jane's；　and　apparently　terribly　concerned　about　her　welfare。〃

〃Stop；　Nora；〃　said　Jane；　flushing　a　fiery　red。　　〃Don't　be　silly。　He　is　a　young　man　whom　we　met　on　the　train；　Mrs。　Gwynne；　a　friend　of　some　of　our　Winnipeg　friends。〃

〃We　shall　be　very　glad　to　have　him　stay　with　us；　my　dear；〃　said　Mrs。　Gwynne。　　〃Go　and　bring　him　in。〃

〃Go　on；　Jane；〃　said　Nora。

〃Now；　Nora；　stop　it；〃　said　Jane。　　〃I　will　get　really　cross　with　you。　　Hush；　there　he　is。〃

The　young　man　seemed　to　fill　up　the　door　with　his　bulk。　　〃Mr。　Wakeham；〃　said　Larry；　as　the　young　fellow　stood　looking　around　on　the　group　with　a　frank；　expansive　smile　upon　his　handsome　face。　　As　his　eye　fell　upon　a　little　lady　the　young　man　seemed　to　come　to　attention。　　Insensibly　he　appeared　to　assume　an　attitude　of　greater　respect　as　he　bowed　low　over　her　hand。

〃I　hope　you　will　pardon　my　coming　here　so　early　in　the　morning；〃　he　said　with　an　em