‘What a stout fellow!’ said Mr. Ferrars, as he went off at a plunging gallop, ‘I should have taken him for at least five years old!’

‘So he might be,’ said Albinia, ’for strength and spirit—­he is utterly fearless, and never cries, much as he knocks himself about!  He will do anything but learn.  The rogue! he once knew all his letters, but no sooner did he find they were the work of life, than he forgot every one, and was never so obstreperous as when called upon to say them.  I gave up the point, but I foresee some fine scenes.’

’His minding no one but you is an old story.  I hope at least the exception continues.’

’I have avoided testing it.  I want all my forces for a decisive battle.  I never heard of such a masterful imp,’ she continued, with much more exultation than anxiety, ’his sisters have no chance with him, he rules them like a young Turk.  There’s the pony!  Sophy will let him have it as a right, and it is the work of my life to see that she is not defrauded of her rides.’

‘You don’t mean that that child rides anything but a stick.’

’One would think he had been born in boots and spurs.  Legitimately he only rides with some one leading the pony, but I have my suspicions that by some preternatural means he has been on the pony’s back, and round the yard alone, and that papa prudentially concealed it from me!’

‘I confess I should not like it,’ said her brother gravely.

’Oh!  I don’t mind that kind of thing.  A real boy can’t be hurt, and I don’t care how wild he runs, so long as he is obedient and truthful.  And true I think he is to the backbone, and I know he is reverend.  We had such a disturbance because he would not say his prayers.’

‘Proof positive!’

‘Yes, it was,’ said Albinia.  ’It did not seem to him orthodox without me, and when he was let into my room again, it was the prettiest sight!  When he had been told of his little sister, all he said was that he did not want little girls—­girls were stupid—­’

‘Ah! that came of your premature introduction to my Albinia,’

’Not at all.  It was partly as William’s own nephew, and partly because pleasure was expected from him.  But when he actually saw the little thing, that sturdy face grew so very soft and sweet, and when we told him he was her protector, he put both his hands tight together, and said, “I’ll be so good!” When he is with her, another child seems to shine out under the bluff pickle he generally is—­he walks so quietly, and thinks it such an honour to touch her.’

‘She will be his best tutor,’ said Maurice, smiling, but breaking off—­

A sudden shriek of deadly terror rang out over the garden from the river!  A second or two sufficed to show them Lucy at the other end of the foot-bridge, that led across the canal to the towing-path.  She did not look round, till Albinia, clutching her, demanded, ’Where is he?’