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It was true that Rachel heartily enjoyed these rides Hitherto she had

been only allowed to go out under the escort of her tyrant the coachman,

who kept her in very strict discipline She had not anticipated anything

much more lively with Fanny, her boys, and ponies; but Colonel Keith

had impressed on Conrade and Francis that they were their arded her bridle-rein as their post, keeping

watch over her as if her safety depended on them, and ready to quarrel

with each other if the roads were too narrow for all three to go

abreast And as soon as the colonel had ascertained that she and they

were quite sufficient to theuarded by Cooard himself as bound to their company, but he and

Rachel extended their rides in search of objects of interest She liked

doing the honours of the county, and achieved expeditions which her

coachman had hitherto never permitted to her, in search of ruins, cay, though a

wandering life even with an Indian baggage-train had saved hi her conteht the

character of the conformations of rocks, and when they had mounted one