Not even vanity could persuade me that they were laughing at anything
more grotesque than myself, so, putting a bold face on matters so
humiliating, I sauntered as carelessly and loftily as I dared in their
direction. My courage seemed to abash them a little; they gathered
back their petticoats like birds about to fly. But at hint of a
titter, they all three began gaily laughing again till their eyes
sparkled brighter than ever, and their cheeks seemed shadows of the
roses above their heads.

"Ladies," I began gravely, "I have left my horse, that is very old and
very thirsty, above in the wood. Is there any path I may discover by
which she may reach the water without offence?"

"Is she very old?" said one.

"She is very old," I said.

"But is she very thirsty?" said another.

"She is perhaps very thirsty," I said.

"Perhaps!" cried they all.

"Because, ladies," I replied, "being by nature of a timid tongue, and
compelled to say something, and having nothing apt to say, I
remembered my old Rosinante above in the wood."

They glanced each at each, and glanced again at me.

"But there is no path down that is not steep," said the fairest of the