e drive. The horses ought to be used too, you
know," she said lightly, preparing to run up to carry out the changed
plan.

"Never mind that now," said Mr. King abruptly. "I want you to give me
your attention directly." And walking towards the library door, getting
a fresh accession of impatience with every step, he beckoned her to
follow.

But his progress was somewhat impeded by little Dick--or rather, little
Dick and Prince, who were standing at the top of the stairs to see Mrs.
Whitney off. When he saw his mother retrace her steps, supposing her
yielding to the urgent entreaties that he was sending after her to stay
at home, the child suddenly changed his "Good-byes" to vociferous howls
of delight, and speedily began to plunge down the stairs to welcome her.

But the staircase was long, and little Dick was in a hurry, and besides,
Prince was in the way. The consequence was, nobody knew just how, that
a bumping noise struck into the conversation that made the two below in
the hall look up quickly, to see the child and dog come rolling over the
stairs at a rapid rate.

"Zounds!" cried the old gentleman. "Here, Thomas, Thomas!" But as that
individual was waiting patiently outside the door on the carriage box,
there was small hope of his being in time to catch the boy, who was
already in his mother's arms, not quite clear by the suddenness of the
whole thing, as to how he came there.

"Oh! oh! Dicky's hurt!" cried somebody up above--followed by every
one within hearing distance, and all came rushing to the spot to ask a
thousand questions all in the same minute.

There sat Mrs. Whitney in one of the big carved chairs, with little Dick
in her lap, and Prince walking gravely around and around him with the
greatest expression of concern on his noble face. Mr. King was storming
up and down, and calling on everybody to bring a "bowl of water, and
some brown paper; and be quick!" interpolated with showers of blame on
Prince for sitting on the stairs, and tripping people up! while Dick
meanwhile was laughing and chatting, and enjoying the distinction of
making so many people run, and of otherwise being the object of so much
attention!

"I don't think he was sitting on the stairs, father," said Jasper, who,
when he saw that Dicky was really unhurt, began to vindicate his dog.
"He never does that; do you Sir?" he said patting the head that was
lifted up to him, as if to be defended.

"And I expect we shall all be killed