She laughed, "I went through it once, but one day it came." "What came, Leila ?" "Oh! the joy of the horse!" "I shall never get to that." But he did, for the hard riding-master scolded, smiled, praised, and when at last John sat in the saddle the bareback lessons gave him a certain confidence.

The training went on day after day, under the rule of patient but relentless efficiency.

It was far into June when, having backed without serious misadventures two or three well-broken horses, Penhallow mounted him on Leila's mare, Lucy, and set out to ride with him.
"Let us ride to the mills, John." The mare was perfectly gaited and easy.
They rode on, talking horses.
"You will have to manage the mills some day," said Penhallow.

"You own quite a fifth of them.

Now I have three partners, but some day you and I will run them." The boy had been there before with Rivers, but now the Squire presented him to the foreman and as they moved about explained the machinery.