“You liked riding the other day.  Would you like a ride now?  Rhoda is very gentle, if you can sit on my saddle.  Look!  I’ll shorten the stirrup.  There now; there’s a brave little girl!  I’ll lead her very carefully.  Why, Erminia durst not ride without a side-saddle!  I’ll tell you what; I’ll bring the newspaper every Wednesday till I go to school, and you shall have a ride.  Only I wish we had a side-saddle for Rhoda.  Or, if Erminia will let me, I’ll bring Abdel-Kadr, the little Shetland you rode the other day.”

“But will Mr. Buxton let you?” asked Maggie, half delighted—­half afraid.

“Oh, my father! to be sure he will.  I have him in very good order.”

Maggie was rather puzzled by this way of speaking.

“When do you go to school?” asked she.

“Toward the end of August; I don’t know the day.”

“Does Erminia go to school?”

“No.  I believe she will soon though, if mamma does not get better.”  Maggie liked the change of voice, as he spoke of his mother.

“There, little lady! now jump down.  Famous! you’ve a deal of spirit, you little brown mouse.”

Nancy came out, with a wondering look, to receive Maggie.

“It is Mr. Frank Buxton,” said she, by way of an introduction.  “He has brought mamma the newspaper.”

“Will you walk in, sir, and rest?  I can tie up your horse.”

“No, thank you,” said he, “I must be off.  Don’t forget, little mousey, that you are to ready for another ride next Wednesday.”  And away he went.

It needed a good deal of Nancy’s diplomacy to procure Maggie this pleasure; although I don’t know why Mrs. Browne should have denied it, for the circle they went was always within sight of the knoll in front of the house, if any one cared enough about the matter to mount it, and look after them.  Frank and Maggie got great friends in these rides.  Her fearlessness delighted and surprised him, she had seemed so cowed and timid at first.  But she was only so with people, as he found out before holidays ended.  He saw her shrink from particular looks and inflexions of voice of her mother’s; and learnt to read them, and dislike Mrs. Browne accordingly, notwithstanding all her sugary manner toward himself.  The result of his observations he communicated to his mother, and in consequence, he was the bearer of a most civil and ceremonious message from Mrs. Buxton to Mrs. Browne, to the effect that the former would be much obliged to the latter if she would allow Maggie to ride down occasionally with the groom, who would bring the newspapers on the Wednesdays (now Frank was going to school), and to spend the afternoon with Erminia.  Mrs. Browne consented, proud of the honor, and yet a little annoyed that no mention was made of herself.  When Frank had bid good-bye, and fairly disappeared, she turned to Maggie.

“You must not set yourself up if you go among these fine folks.  It is their way of showing attention to your father and myself.  And you must mind and work doubly hard on Thursdays to make up for playing on Wednesdays.”