“And wouldn’t you like to be standing by her?” asked Ralph.

Cicely shook her head.  “No,” she said.  “To speak truly, I should rather be here.  We used to go a good deal to the seashore, but this is the first time that I ever really lived in the country, and it is so charming I would not lose a day of it, and there cannot be very many more days of it, anyway.”

“Why not?” asked Ralph.

“I am now copying chapter twenty-seventh of the doctor’s book, and there are only thirty-one in all.  And as to his other work, that will not occupy me very long.”

Ralph was about to ask a question, but, instead, he involuntarily grasped one of the little gloved hands that held the reins.

“Pull that,” he said quickly.  “You must always turn to the right when you meet a vehicle.”

Cicely obeyed, but when they had passed a wagon, drawn by a team of oxen, she said, “But there was more room on the other side.”

“That may be,” replied Ralph, with a laugh, “but when you are driving, you must not rely too much on your reason, but must follow rules and tradition.”

“If I knew as much about driving as I like it,” said she, “I should be a famous whip.  Before we go, I am going to ask Miriam to take me out with her, two or three times, and give me lessons in driving.  She told me that you had taught her a great deal.”

“So you would be willing to take your tuition secondhand,” said Ralph.  “I am a much better teacher than Miriam is.”

“Would you like to make up a class?” she asked.  “But I do not know how the teacher and the two pupils could ride in this gig.  Oh, I see.  Miriam and I could sit here, and you could walk by our side and instruct us, and when the one who happened to be driving should make a mistake, she would give up her seat and the reins, and go to the foot of her class.”

“Class indeed!” exclaimed Ralph; “I’ll have none of it.  I will take you out tomorrow and give you a lesson.”

So they went gayly on till they came to a grassy hill which shut out the western view.

“Do you think I could go through that gate,” asked Cicely, “and drive Mrs. Browning up that hill?  There is going to be a grand sunset, and we should get a fine view of it up there.”

“No,” said Ralph, “let us get out and walk up, and as Mrs. Browning can see the barn, we will not worry her soul by tying her to the fence.  I shall let her go home by herself, and you will see how beautifully she will do it.”

So they got out, and Ralph having fastened the reins to the dashboard, clicked to the old mare, who walked away by herself.  Cicely was greatly interested, and the two stood and watched the sober-minded animal as she made her way home as quietly and properly as if she had been driven.  When she entered the gate of the barnyard, and stopped at the stable door, Ralph remarked that she would stand there until Mike came out, and then the two went into the field and walked up the hill.