ground below them is
bare but for tussocks of coarse grass and ruddy beds of fallen fir
needles. On the right, the fir wood is broken by coppices of
silver-stemmed birches, and spaces of heather--that shows a
purple-brown against the gray of the reindeer moss out of which it
springs. Tits swung and frolicked among the tree-tops, and a jay flew
off noisily with a flash of azure wing-coverts and volley of harsh
discordant cries.

The rapid movement, the moist, pungent odour of the woodland, the
rhythmical trot of the horses, the rattle of the splinter-bar chains as
the traces slackened going downhill, above all the presence of the man
beside him, were pleasantly stimulating to Richard Calmady. The boy was
still a prey to much innocent enthusiasm. It appeared to him, watching
Ormiston's handling of the reins and whip, there was nothing this man
could not do, and do skilfully, yet all with the same easy unconcern.
Indeed, the present position was so agreeable to him that Dickie's
spirits would have risen to an unusual height, but for a certain
chastening of the flesh in the shape of the occasional pressure of a
broad strap against his middle, which brought him unwelcome remembrance
of recent discoveries it was his earnest desire to ignore, still better
to forget.

For just at starting there had been a rather bad moment. Winter, having
settled him on the seat of the dog-cart, was preparing to tuck him in
with many rugs, when Ormiston said--

"Look here, dear old chap, I've been thinking about this, and upon my
word you don't seem to me very safe. You see this is a different matter
to your donkey-chair, or the pony-carriage. There's no protection at
the side, and if the horses shied or anything--well, you'd be in the
road. And I can't afford to spill you the first time we go out
together, or there'd be a speedy end of all our fun."

Richard tried to emulate his uncle's cool indifference, and take the
broad strap as a matter of course. But he was glad the tongue of the
buckle slipped so directly into place; and that Henry's attention was
engaged with the near horse, which fretted at standing; and that
Leonard, the footman, was busy making Camp jump up at the back; and
that his mother, who had been watching him from the lowest of the wide
steps, turned away and went up to the flight to join Julius March
standing under the gray arcade. As the horses sprang forward,
clattering the little pebbles of the drive against the body