yourself a capable horseman, that is all I desire."

The stable-boy slid back the door, and the two entered. Warburton
glanced quickly about; all was neatness. There was light and
ventilation, too, and the box-stalls were roomy. The girl stopped
before a handsome bay mare, which whinnied when it saw her. She laid
her cheek against the animal's nose and talked that soft jargon so
embarrassing to man and so intelligible to babies and pet animals.
Lucky horse! he thought; but his face expressed nothing.

"This is Jane, my own horse, and there are few living things I love
so well. Remember this. She is a thoroughbred, a first-class hunter;
and I have done more than five feet on her at home."

She moved on, Warburton following soberly and thoughtfully. There was
a good deal to think of just now. The more he saw of this girl, the
less he understood her purpose in hiring him. She couldn't possibly
know anything about him, who or what he was. With his beard gone he
defied her to recognize in him the man who had traveled across the
Atlantic with her. A highbred woman, such as she was, would scarcely
harbor any kind feelings toward a man who had acted as he was acting.
If any man had kissed Nancy the way he had kissed her, he would have
broken every bone in his body or hired some one to do it. And she had
paid his fine at the police-station and had hired him on probation!
Truly he was in the woods, and there wasn't a sign of a blazed trail.
(It will be seen that my hero hadn't had much experience with women.
She knew nothing of him whatever. She was simply curious, and brave
enough to attempt to have this curiosity gratified. Of course, I do
not venture to say that, had he been coarse in appearance, she would
have had anything to do with him.)