a shade of sarcasm in his voice, "but I did not expect you would back
it. Come, I'll make this match, if you like; you shall ride
catch-weight, which will be about 11 st. 7 lb., and I'll ride the Axeine
at 14 st. 7 lb.: I must take a 7 lb. saddle to do that. They are both in
hard condition, so it can come off in ten days; and I'll give the
farmers a cup to run for at the same time. Is it a match?"

"Certainly, if Miss Raymond will trust me with Bella Donna."

Isabel's eyes sparkled--so brilliantly! as she answered, "I should like
it, of all things."

"Now, Puss," Guy went on, "you ought to have something on it. There is a
certain set of turquoises and pearls that I meant to give you whenever
you had been good for three weeks consecutively; it is no use waiting
for such a miracle, so I'll bet you these against that sapphire and
diamond ring you have taken to wearing lately."

His cousin looked distressed and confused. "Any thing else, Guy," she
said. "I can not risk that; it was a present from--from Mrs. Molyneux."

"I don't think," Charley suggested, very quietly, "Mrs.--Molyneux, was
it not?--could object to your investing her present on such a certainty.
I really believe we shall bring it off; and if not--" He checked himself
with a smile.

"Oh, if you think so," answered Isabel, blushing more than ever, "I will
venture my ring. But you _must_ win; I don't know what I should do if I
lost it." So it was settled.