It may be the last fly I'll take until I get wings, for I hardly expects, sir, to escape the dangers of that buggy." In talking with Mrs.Fortescue about the music ride Colonel Fortescue dwelt upon the superiority of a quiet horse like Pretty Maid over a constitutional kicker like Birdseye.
"It's the quiet ones, horses and women, that need watching," replied Mrs.Fortescue, who had never been accused of being a quiet one.
For two weeks before Christmas the exhibition drill and music ride was the great subject of attention at Fort Blizzard.

The most interesting part of the show was the music ride, in which the girls of the post were to ride, each girl having her attendant cavalier.

When it was known that Anita was to ride with Broussard all the other sublieutenants who had hoped to sit in Broussard's saddle promptly provided themselves with other charming young ladies of the post.

Next to Anita, the best rider was Sally Harlow, the daughter of her who had been Sally Carteret.

Mrs.Harlow followed the example of Mrs.
Fortescue, whose bridesmaid she had been, and had married within a year the dashing young officer with whom she "stood up" at Mrs.Fortescue's wedding.