thankful for small mercies—one seldom has big ones to be thankful for—and she might have been fat and podgy! But what in the world those doctor people were about not to give her drill and calisthenic lessons, I can’t think!” “There were herds of them, I fancy,” said her nephew. “Whenever Sydney mentions them, which isn’t seldom, she springs a new one upon me. They would make an excellent third volume to the Pillars of the House. I don’t suppose there was overmuch cash to spare for accomplishments.” “I never can think why it is that those people who cannot afford it always have such enormous families,” pursued the lady. [91] [91] “If we had done our duty by Sydney as we should, there would have been one less all these eighteen years,” her nephew suggested, and Lady Frederica changed the subject, as she always did when St. Quentin had what she called a “conscientious craze.” “It’s your health makes you talk like that, my dear boy,” she declared. “You are really getting quite ridiculous about Sydney!” The round of accomplishments now began in good earnest. Sydney and Miss Osric breakfasted at eight-thirty, after which, when the weather was at all possible, Sydney took her ride on her new mare “Bessie,” a charming creature, whom she learned to love! Even Lady Frederica owned that, after a few lessons from old Banks, who had taught the present marquess to ride long ago, Sydney passed muster well enough on horseback. She and Bessie understood each other, and she bade fair to make a graceful and a fearless horsewoman. “Of course she can ride; all the Lisles can ride anything that has a back to it,” St. Quentin said, when Lady Frederica condescended to approve the girl’s horsemanship; but, though his tone was careless, there was no doubt he was gratified by the fact that[92] his young cousin took after the family in that respect. [92] On three mornings in the week Sydney had masters from Donisbro’ for French, piano, and singing, and every Saturday a sergeant with a huge black moustache came to teach her fencing in the long “Gallery-at-Arms,” where the third marquess of St. Quentin was said to have fought a duel with the famous Duke of Marlborough one wild morning when a stormy dawn peered
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