and wondered if it were wise, if stern; but for the present she
decided that it could not be her duty to risk what had been carefully
and kindly selected for her in unpractised and careless hands; and
she further compromised the matter by reckoning whether her funds,
which were not excessive, would admit of the hire or purchase of
machines that might allay the burning aspirations of her young
people.

The upshot of her reckoning was that when they all met at the early
dinner, she announced, "I think we might go to Rock Quay this
afternoon, between the pony carriage and Shanks's mare. I want to
ask about some lessons, and we could see about the hire of a bicycle
for you to learn upon."

It was only Agatha who answered, "Thank you, but it is not worth
while for me, I shall be away so soon."

Thekla cried out, "Me too!"--and Paulina mumbled something. In
truth, besides the thought of the bicycle in the stable, the other
two had lived enough in the country-town atmosphere to be foolishly
disgusted at being obliged to dine early. That they had always been
used to it made them only think it beneath their age as well as their
dignity, and, "What a horrid nuisance!" had been on their tongues
when the bell was ringing.

Moreover, they had enough of silly prejudice about them to feel
aggrieved at the sight of hash, nice as it was with fresh vegetables,
and they were not disposed to good temper when they sat down to their
meal. "They" perhaps properly means the middle pair, for Agatha had
more notion of manners and of respect, and Thekla had an endless