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Original Short Stories； Vol。 6。
By Guy de Maupassant
VOLUME VI。
THAT COSTLY RIDE
USELESS BEAUTY
THE FATHER
MY UNCLE SOSTHENES
THE BARONESS
MOTHER AND SON
THE HAND
A TRESS OF HAIR
ON THE RIVER
THE CRIPPLE
A STROLL
ALEXANDRE
THE LOG
JULIE ROMAINE
THE RONDOLI SISTERS
THAT COSTLY RIDE
The household lived frugally on the meager income derived from the
husband's insignificant appointments。 Two children had been born of the
marriage； and the earlier condition of the strictest economy had become
one of quiet； concealed； shamefaced misery； the poverty of a noble
familywhich in spite of misfortune never forgets its rank。
Hector de Gribelin had been educated in the provinces； under the paternal
roof； by an aged priest。 His people were not rich； but they managed to
live and to keep up appearances。
At twenty years of age they tried to find him a position； and he entered
the Ministry of Marine as a clerk at sixty pounds a year。 He foundered
on the rock of life like all those who have not been early prepared for
its rude struggles； who look at life through a mist； who do not know how
to protect themselves； whose special aptitudes and faculties have not
been developed from childhood； whose early training has not developed the
rough energy needed for the battle of life or furnished them with tool or
weapon。
His first three years of office work were a martyrdom。
He had； however； renewed the acquaintance of a few friends of his family
elderly people； far behind the times； and poor like himself； who lived
in aristocratic streets； the gloomy thoroughfares of the Faubourg Saint…
Germain ； and he had created a social circle for himself。
Strangers to modern life； humble yet proud； these needy aristocrats lived
in the upper stories of sleepy； old…world houses。 From top to bottom of
their dwellings the tenants were titled； but money seemed just as scarce
on the ground floor as in the attics。
Their eternal prejudices； absorption in their rank； anxiety lest they
should lose caste； filled the minds and thoughts of these families once
so brilliant； now ruined by the idleness of the men of the family。
Hector de Gribelin met in this circle a young girl as well born and as
poor as himself and married her。
They had two children in four years。
For four years more the husband and wife； harassed by poverty； knew no
other distraction than the Sunday walk in the Champs…Elysees and a few
evenings at the theatre （amounting in all to one or two in the course of
the winter） which they owed to free passes presented by some comrade or
other。
But in the spring of the following year some overtime work was entrusted
to Hector de Gribelin by his chief； for which he received the large sum
of three hundred francs。
The day he brought the money home he said to his wife：
〃My dear Henrietta； we must indulge in some sort of festivitysay an
outing for the children。〃
And after a long discussion it was decided that they should go and lunch
one day in the country。
〃Well；〃 cried Hector； 〃once will not break us； so we'll hire a wagonette
for you； the children and the maid。 And I'll have a saddle horse； the
exercise will do me good。〃
The whole week long they talked of nothing but the projected excursion。
Every evening； on his return from the office； Hector caught up his elder
son； put him astride his leg； and； making him bounce up and down as hard
as he could； said：
〃That's how daddy will gallop next Sunday。〃
And the youngster amused himself all day long by bestriding chairs；
dragging them round the room and shouting：
〃This is daddy on horseback！〃
The servant herself gazed at her master with awestruck eyes as she
thought of him riding alongside the carriage； and at meal…times she
listened with all her ears while he spoke of riding and recounted the
exploits of his youth； when he lived at home with his father。 Oh； he had
learned in a good school； and once he felt his steed between his legs he
feared nothingnothing whatever！
Rubbing his hands； he repeated gaily to his wife：
〃If only they would give me a restive animal I should be all the better
pleased。 You'll see how well I can ride； and if you like we'll come back
by the Champs…Elysees just as all the people are returning from the Bois。
As we shall make a good appearance； I shouldn't at all object to meeting
some one from the ministry。 That is all that is necessary to insure the
respect of one's chiefs。〃
On the day appointed the carriage and the riding horse arrived at the
same moment before the door。 Hector went down immediately to examine his
mount。 He had had straps sewn to his trousers and flourished in his hand
a whip he had bought the evening before。
He raised the horse's legs and felt them one after another； passed his
hand over the animal's neck； flank and hocks； opened his mouth； examined
his teeth； declared his age； and then； the whole household having
collected round him； he delivered a discourse on the horse in general and
the specimen before him in particular； pronouncing the latter excellent
in every respect。
When the rest of the party had taken their seats in the carriage he
examined the saddle…girth； then； putting his foot in the stirrup； he
sprang to the saddle。 The animal began to curvet and nearly threw his
rider。
Hector； not altogether at his ease； tried to soothe him：
〃Come； come； good horse； gently now！〃
Then； when the horse had recovered his equanimity and the rider his
nerve； the latter asked：
〃Are you ready？〃
The occupants of the carriage replied with one voice：
〃Yes。〃
〃Forward！〃 he commanded。
And the cavalcade set out。
All looks were centered on him。 He trotted in the English style； rising
unnecessarily high in the saddle； looking at times as if he were mounting
into space。 Sometimes he seemed on the point of falling forward on the
horse's mane； his eyes were fixed； his face drawn； his cheeks pale。
His wife； holding one of the children on her knees； and the servant； who
was carrying the other； continually cried out：
〃Look at papa！ look at papa！〃
And the two boys； intoxicated by the motion of the carriage； by their
delight and by the keen air； uttered shrill cries。 The horse； frightened
by the noise they made； started off at a gallop； and while Hector was
trying to control his steed his hat fell off； and the driver had to get
down and pick it up。 When the equestrian had recovered it he called to
his wife from a distance：
〃Don't let the children shout like that！ They'll make the horse bolt！〃
They lunched on the grass in the Vesinet woods； having brought provisions
with them in the carriage。
Although the driver was looking after the three horses； Hector rose every
minute to see if his own lacked anything； he patted him on the neck and
fed him with bread； cakes and sugar。
〃He's an unequal trotter；〃 he declared。 〃He certainly shook me up a
little at first； but； as you saw； I soon got used to it。 He knows his
master now and won't give any more trouble。〃
As had been decided； they returned by the Champs…Elysees。
That spacious thoroughfare literally swarmed