He rode her far and learned her thoroughly before he brought her back.

She was as lively as a kitten, but as kind as a dove.

Nothing could have been better tempered and safer.

She would pass anything, even the unexpected appearance of a road-mending engine turning a corner did not perceptibly disturb her.
"Is she well behaved ?" Hester asked at dinner time.
"Yes, apparently," was his answer; "but I shall take her out once or twice again." He did take her out again, and had only praise for her on each occasion.
But the riding lessons did not begin at once.

In fact he was, for a number of reasons, in a sullen and unsociable humour which did not incline him towards the task he had undertaken.