, I
know, but you must remember you're not much bigger than a sparrow sitting
up there, and I won't let you go back by yourself."

"You cannot stop me."

"I can."

"You can't."

"I can."

"You can't."

"I can."

"How?"

"I'm going with you," he said.

"You're not."

"I am."

"You're not."

I am".

"You ar-r-re not."

"I am".

"You are, ar-r-re not."

"We'll see whether I will or not in a minute or two," he said with
amusement.

"But, Mr Betcham, I object to your company. I am quite capable of taking
care of myself; besides, if you come home with me I will not be allowed
out alone again--it will be altogether unpleasant for me."

Mrs Butler now appeared with the mail and some parcels, and Harold stowed
them in the buggy.

"You'd better come in an' 'ave a drop of tay-warter, miss, the kittle's
bilin'; and I have the table laid out for both of yez."

"No, thank you, Mrs Butler. I can't possibly stay today, it's getting
late. I must hurry off. Good-bye! Good afternoon, Mr Beecham."

I turned my buggy and pair smartly round and was swooping oil. Without a
word Harold was at their heads and seized the reins. He seized his
horse's bridle, where it was over the paling, and in a moment had him
tied on the off-side of Barney, then stepping quietly into the buggy he
put me away from the driver's seat as though I were a baby, quietly took
the reins and whip, raised his hat to Mrs Butler, who was smiling
knowingly, and drove off.

I was highly delighted with his action, as I would have despised him as a
booby had he given in to me, but I did not let my satisfaction appear. I
sat as far away from him as possible, and pretended to be in a great
huff. For a while he was too fully occupied in making Barney "sit up" to
notice me, but after a few minutes he looked round, smiling a most
annoying and pleasant smile.

"I'd advise you to straighten out your chin. It is too round and soft to
look well screwed up that way," he said provokingly.

I tried to extinguish him with a look, but it had not the desired effect.

"Now you had better be civil, for I have got the big end of the whip," he
said.

"I reserve to myself the right of behaving as I think fit in my own
uncle's buggy. You are an intruder; it is yourself that should be civil."

I erected my parasol and held it so as to tease Harold. I put it down so
that he could not see the horses. He quietly seized my wrist and held it
out of his way for a t