I must end my long letter by telling you a little story of my own
personal experience in the odd ways of these girls. The housemaid
at the boarding-house where we have stayed since we left Heathstock
is a fat, sonsy, good-natured girl, perfectly ignorant and stupid,
but she has not been long in the colony, and seems willing to learn.
She came to me the other day, and, without the least circumlocution
or hesitation, asked me if I would lend her my riding-habit as a
pattern to give the tailor; adding that she wanted my best and
newest. As soon as I could speak for amazement, I naturally asked
why; she said she had been given a riding-horse, that she had loaned
a saddle, and bought a hat, so now she had nothing on her mind
except the habit; and further added, that she intended to leave her
situation the day before the races, and that it was "her fixed
intent" to appear on horseback each day, and all day long, at these
said races. I inquired if she knew how to ride? No; she had never
mounted any animal in her life. I suggested that she had better
take some lessons before her appearance in public; but she said her
mistress did not like to spare her to "practise," and she stuck
steadily to her point of wanting my habit as a pattern. I could not
lend it to her, fortunately, for it had been sent up to the station
with my saddle, etc.; so had she been killed, as I thought not at
all unlikely, at least my conscience would not have reproached me
for aiding and abetting her equestrian freak. I inquired from every
one who went to the races if they saw or heard of any accident to a
woman on horseback, and I most anxiously watched the newspapers to
see if they contained any notice of the sort, but as there has been
no mention of any catastrophe, I suppose she has escaped safely.
Her horse must have been quieter and better broken than they
generally are. F--- says that probably it was a very old "station
screw." I trust so, for her sake!