One word of explanation would have settled it all, but he would not speak that word till he whispered it to Captain Glomax.
In the meantime there was a crowd in the road waiting to see the result of Tony's manoeuvres.

And then, as is usual on such occasions, a little mild repartee went about,--what the sportsmen themselves would have called "chaff." Ned Botsey came up, not having broken his horse's back as had been rumoured, but having had to drag the brute out of the brook with the help of two countrymen, and the Major was asked about his fall till he was forced to open his mouth.
"Double ditch;--mare fell;--matter of course." And then he got himself out of the crowd, disgusted with the littleness of mankind.
Lord Rufford had been riding a very big chestnut horse, and had watched the anxious struggles of Kate Masters to hold her place.
Kate, though fifteen, and quite up to that age in intelligence and impudence, was small and looked almost a child.

"That's a nice pony of yours, my dear," said the Lord.

Kate, who didn't quite like being called "my dear," but who knew that a lord has privileges, said that it was a very good pony.

"Suppose we change," said his lordship.
"Could you ride my horse ?" "He's very big," said Kate.