The subsequent failure of this attempt deflected the malicious Dolly still further from the path of duty. A wheel cramped and lifted perilously. Miss Daggett squealed shrilly: “He’ll tip the buggy over—he’ll tip the buggy over! For pity’s sake, Abby!” Mrs. Daggett stepped briskly out of the vehicle and seized the bridle. “Ain’t you ashamed?” she demanded sternly. “You loosen up that there tail o’ yourn this minute!” “I got ’em!” announced Miss Daggett, triumphantly. “He loosened right up.” She handed the recovered reins to her sister-in-law, and the two ladies resumed their journey and their conversation. “I never was so scared in all my life,” stated Lois Daggett, straightening her hat which had assumed a rakish angle over one ear. “I should think you’d be afraid to drive such a horse, Abby. What in creation would have happened to you if I hadn’t been in the buggy?” “As like as not he wouldn’t have took a notion with his tail, Lois, if I’d been driving him alone,” hazarded Mrs. Daggett mildly. “Dolly’s an awful knowing horse.... Git-ap, Dolly!” “Do you mean to tell me, Abby Daggett, that there horse of Henry’s has took a spite against _me?_” demanded the spinster.... “Mebbe he’s a mind-reader,” she added darkly. “You know I didn’t mean nothin’ like that, Lois,” her sister-in-law assured her pacifically. “What I meant to say was: I got so interested in what you were saying, Lois, that I handled the reins careless, and he took advantage.... Git-ap, Dolly! Don’t you see, Lois, even a horse knows the difference when two ladies is talking.” “You’d ought to learn to say exactly what you mean, Abby,” commented Miss Daggett. She glanced suspiciously at the fresh striped muslin, which was further enhanced by a wide crocheted collar and a light blue satin bow. “Where’d you say you were goin’ this afternoon, Abby?” “I said out in the country a piece, Lois; it’s such a nice afternoon.” “Well, _I_ should think Henry’d be needing the horse for his business. I know _I’d_ never think of asking him for it—and me a blood relation, too, trying to earn my bread and butter tramping around the country with Famous People.” Mrs. Daggett, thus convicted of heartless selfishness, sighed vaguely. Henry’s sister always made her feel vastly uncomfortable, even sinful. “You know, Lois, we’d be real glad to have you come and live with us constant,” she said heroically.... “Git-ap, Dolly!” Miss Daggett compressed her thin lips. “No; I’m too independent for that, Abby, an’ you know it. If poor Henry was to be left a widower, I might consider living in his house and doing for him; but you know, Abby, there’s very few houses big enough for two women.... And that r’minds me; did you know Miss Orr has got a hired girl?” “Has she?” inquired Mrs. Daggett, welcoming the change of subject with cordial interest. “A hired girl! ...Git-ap, Dolly!”