come, even to the Melmottes, in preference to remaining at Caversham, she fortified herself to suffer much.  Could she have ridden in the park at mid-day in desirable company, and found herself in proper houses at midnight, she would have borne the rest, bad as it might have been.  But it was not so.  She had her horse, but could with difficulty get any proper companion.  She had been in the habit of riding with one of the Primero girls,—­and old Primero would accompany them, or perhaps a brother Primero, or occasionally her own father.  And then, when once out, she would be surrounded by a cloud of young men,—­and though there was but little in it, a walking round and round the same bit of ground with the same companions and with the smallest attempt at...