with a very pretty little white side-saddle and bridle, a present which
Helen had received from her grand-mamma the last time she had visited
Eskdale. "My dear Helen," said the old lady, when she presented them to
her, "I have brought you this side-saddle, in hopes that it may induce you
to conquer your fears of mounting a horse. I am very anxious, considering
the part of the world in which you live, that you should learn to ride
well; as it may be of essential consequences to you through life.
Besides," added she, smiling, "you know, my dear, that unless you are a
good horsewoman, I can never have the pleasure of seeing you at Melrose;
for your dear papa cannot afford to send you by any other mode of
conveyance. Nothing but practice will ever give you the confidence that is
necessary to enable you to accomplish this; and I hope that, whenever you
see pony dressed in his new saddle and bridle, it will remind you of the
great delight that I shall have in seeing my dear girl riding up to my
door at Melrose." Helen thanked her grandmother, and said she would try if
she could learn; but she hoped her papa would walk close by her side, and
make Bob go very slowly at first. Nothing, she was sure, would give her so
much pleasure as to go and visit her dear grandmamma. Her mother took an
opportunity of speaking to her when they were alone, and told her that if,
in the course of the summer, she had gained a sufficient command of her
pony and a firm seat in her side-saddle, she should accompany both her
parents to Melrose in August, the time when they usually made their annual
visit to the good old lady.

Helen was quite delighted with this promise, and for the moment forgot
what she had to accomplish before her journey could take place. However,
next morning, on going down stairs, after she had finished her lessons,
she found that, though she had forgotten all about learning to ride, her
father had not; for before the little glass door of the study stood Bob,
the pony, ready saddled and bridled, and her papa waiting anxiously for