‘And how you will enjoy studying at Florence!’

’Oh, think what it would be if I could ever do a reredos for a church!  I keep on dreaming and fancying them, and now there really seems a hope.  Is that Arnscombe Church?’

‘Yes, you know it has been nicely restored.’

’We had the columns to do.  The reredos is alabaster, I believe, and we had nobody fit to undertake that.  I so longed for the power!  I almost saw it.’

‘Have you seen what it is?’

‘No; I never had time.’

’I suppose it would be too tiring for you now; but we could see the outside.’

Gillian forgot that Arnscombe, whose blunt gray spire protruded through the young green elms, lay in a little valley through which a stream rushed to the sea.  The lane was not very steep, but there were loose stones.  Bruno stumbled, he was down; the carriage stood still, and the two girls were out on opposite sides in a moment, Gillian crying out—–­

’Don’t be frightened—–­no harm done!’—–­as she ran to the pony’s head.  He lay quite still with heaving sides, and she felt utterly alone and helpless in the solitary road with an invalid companion whom she did not like to leave.

‘I am afraid I cannot run for help,’ said Kalliope quietly, though breathlessly; ’but I could sit by the horse and hold his head while you go for help.’

‘I don’t like.  Oh, here’s some one coming!’

‘Can I be of any use?’

Most welcome sound!—–­though it was actually Captain Henderson the ubiquitous wheeling his bicycle up the hill, knapsack of sketching materials on his back.

‘Miss Merrifield!  Miss White!  I trust no one is hurt!’

’Oh no, thank you, unless it is the poor pony!  Kally, sit down on the bank, I insist!  Oh, I am so glad you are come!’

‘Can you sit on his head while I cut the traces?’

Gillian did that comfortable thing till released, when the pony scrambled up again, but with bleeding knees, hip, and side, though the Captain did not think any serious harm was done; but it was even more awkward at the moment that both the shafts were broken!

‘What is to be done?’ sighed Gillian.  ’Miss White can’t walk.  Can I run down to the village to get something to take her home?’

’The place did not look likely to supply any conveyance better than a rough cart,’ said their friend.

’It is quite impossible to put the poor pony in anyhow!  I don’t mind walking in the least; but you know how ill she has been.’

‘I see.  Only one thing to be done,’ said the Captain, who had already turned the carriage round by the stumps of the shafts; ’you must accept me in lieu of your pony.’

‘Oh yes, thank you!’ cried Gillian eagerly.  ’I can lead poor Bruno, and take care of your bicycle.  Jump in, Kally!’

Kalliope, who had wisely abstained from adding a useless voice to the discussion, here demurred.  She could not think of such a thing; they could very well wait in the carriage while Captain Henderson went on to the town on his bicycle and sent out a midge.