thoroughbred, and may
turn out worth a great deal more; still, in these days no one gives a
fair price for anything, and three-fifty is not to be sneezed at when
your rents are always behindhand and your balance at the bank is
overdrawn."

The Squire left the room as he spoke, and Mrs. Lorrimer, with the
faintest of little sighs, presently followed his example. Meanwhile, the
girl in the paddock was having a thoroughly happy time. As soon as she
had finished feeding her favourites, and they had done rubbing their
noses against her face and shoulder, she looked eagerly round her, and
saw with satisfaction that there was no one watching her from any of the
many windows which blinked like eyes all over the old house. She now
approached one of the colts cautiously, laid her hand on his neck, and
with an adroit, quick movement sprang on his back. He was an untamed,
unbroken-in creature. He would have submitted to no burden at all
heavier or at all less dear than that of the slim child who had now
mounted him.

"Hey, Robin, dear," she said, bending forward, catching hold of a wisp
of his mane and almost whispering into his ear, "you'll take me round
the paddock three times, won't you, as swift as the wind, and then it
will be Joe's turn? As swift as you can fly you shall go, my bonny,
bonny Robin. And afterwards you shall have your russet apple; it's in my
pocket."

From the colt's attitude, he seemed perfectly to understand every word
that was addressed to him. He pricked his ear; his eye glanced backward
with loving intelligence. He pawed the ground impatiently--he would not
be off until Nell gave the signal, but when it came there was no doubt
that he would fly swiftly over the ground. Joe, the other colt, stood
near expectantly. His turn was to come, he knew. For him, too, there
would be the light weight of a loved little presence, followed by that
delicious russet apple when the ride was over. Meanwhile, he would
canter after Nelly and Robin, taking care not to go too near nor in any
way to intrude himself mischievously.

"Now," said Nell, sitting bolt upright, "now, Robin--one, two, three,
away!"

Away they went truly, mane and hair alike flying in the breeze--Nell's
short skirts puffed out by the wind, Nell's cheeks with red flames on
them, and Nell's dark grey eyes blazing like subdued fires.

Once round the paddock they flew--twice they went--three times. The
third round was the fastest and the most delirious