She likes it rather.  It gives her confidence, and makes her know where she is.  And look here, Clavvy, when she comes to her fences, give her her head; but steady her first, and make her know that you’re there.  Damme, whatever you do, let her know that you’re there.  There’s nothing like it.  She’ll think all the more of the fellow that’s piloting her.  And look here, Clavvy; ride her with spurs.  Always ride a trained mare with spurs.  Let her know that they’re on; and if she tries to get her head, give ’em her.  Yes, by George, give ’em her.”  And Captain Boodle, in his energy, twisted himself in his chair, and brought his heel round, so that it could be seen by Archie.  Then he produced a sharp click with his tongue, and made the peculiar jerk with the muscle of his legs, whereby he was accustomed to evoke the agility of his horses.  After that, he looked triumphantly at his friend.  “Give ’em her, Clavvy, and she’ll like you the better for it.  She’ll know, then, that you mean it.”

It was thus that Captain Boodle instructed his friend Archie Clavering how to woo Lady Ongar; and Archie, as he listened to his friend’s words of wisdom, felt that he had learned a great deal.  “That’s the way I’ll do it, Doodles,” he said, “and upon my word I’m very much obliged to you.”

“That’s the way, you may depend on it.  Let her know that you’re there—­let her know that you’re there.  She’s done the filly work before, you see; and it’s no good trying that again.”

Captain Clavering really believed that he had learned a good deal, and that he now knew the way to set about the work before him.  What sort of spurs he was to use, and how he was to put them on, I don’t think he did know; but that was a detail as to which he did not think it necessary to consult his adviser.  He sat the whole evening in the smoking-room, very silent, drinking slowly iced gin-and-water; and the more he drank, the more assured he felt that he now understood the way in which he was to attempt the work before him.  “Let her know I’m there,” he said to himself, shaking his head gently, so that no one should observe him; “yes, let her know I’m there.”  At this time Captain Boodle—­or Doodles, as he was familiarly called—­had again ascended to the billiard-room, and was hard at work.  “Let her know that I’m there,” repeated Archie, mentally.  Everything was contained in, that precept.  And he, with his hands before him on his knees, went through the process of steadying a horse with the snaffle-rein, just touching the curb, as he did so, for security.  It was but a motion of his fingers, and no one could see it; but it made him confident that he had learned his lesson.  “Up to the bit,” he repeated; “by George, yes, up to the bit.  There’s nothing like it for a trained mare.  Give her head, but steady her.”  And Archie, as the words passed across his memory, and were almost pronounced, seemed to be flying successfully over some prodigious fence.  He leaned himself back a little in the saddle, and seemed to hold firm with his legs.  That was the way to do it.