The little mare, who had a temper of her own, gave him more trouble.

She disliked his way of putting the crupper under her tail, and one day, to her owner's great delight, 'rose the divil on them' when her new groom got the shaft of the car stuck through her collar.
The want of experience in shooting was more difficult to get over.
Grealy owned an antiquated army rifle, which he lent to Hyacinth.
It was, of course, entirely different from the Mauser, and it was impossible to get an opportunity for firing it off.

However, there was some comfort to be found in handling the thing, and taking long and careful aim at a distant church spire through a window.
In the face of such enthusiasm, Miss Goold could not refuse her recruit.
She talked to him freely about her plans, and was eloquent about the spirit and abilities of M.de Villeneuve, who was to take charge of her soldiers after they joined him in Paris.

On the subject of Captain Quinn she was much more reticent, and she refused altogether to introduce Hyacinth to his ten fellow troopers.
'There's not the least necessity,' she said, 'for you to meet them until the time for starting comes.

In fact, I may say it is safer for none of you to know each other.' Hyacinth experienced a thrill of agreeable excitement.