“Yes, sir; she is full of eagerness.” “Oh that we had many other minds as active! Alas! alas! I fear in that she is, as they call her, Kitty Alone.” CHAPTER XIV TO THE FAIR “Heigh! schoolmaister!” Pasco Pepperill shouted from his tax-cart to Walter Bramber, who was walking along the road collecting wild-flowers--the earliest of the year--that showed in a sheltered hedge. In the trap with Pasco was Kate. “I say, schoolmaister,” said Pepperill, reining in his grey cob, “be you inclined for a drive? I’m off to Ashburton Fair, where I may have business. You have not yet seen much of our country. Jump up! She”--he indicated Kate with a jerk of his chin--“she can squat behind.” The day was lovely, the prospect of a drive engaging; but Bramber hesitated about dislodging Kate, who had, however, immediately begun to transfer herself from the seat beside her uncle to the place behind. “That is not fair nor right,” said the young man. “Let her keep her place, and let me accommodate myself in the rear.” “Not a bit! not a bit!” exclaimed Pepperill. “I’ve asked you for company’s sake.” “But you have the best company in your niece.” “She!”--Pasco uttered a contemptuous sniff,--“she is no company. She either sits as a log or pesters one with questions. What do you think she has just asked of me?” Imitating Kate’s voice, he said, “Uncle, why have horses so many hairs in their ears? Why the dowse does it matter whether horses have hair in their ears or not? Now, schoolmaister, get up in front.” Bramber still objected. “Oh, nonsense!” said Pasco; “I’m taking you up so as to be freed from these questions. It is catechising, or nothing at all.” Bramber looked uneasily at Kate’s face, but her countenance was unmoved; she was accustomed to contemptuous treatment. She raised her timid eyes to Walter, and he said hastily, with some earnestness-- “You and I, Mr. Pepperill, form very different opinions of what entertainment is. When I was having tea at your house, she and I had plenty to say to each other. I found her full of interest”-- “In what?” sneered the uncle. “Daffodils.” “Oh, daffodils!” he laughed. “Any ass likes daffodils.” “Pardon me,” answered Bramber warmly; “the ass and animals of like nature reject or pass them by unnoticed.” “Well, I care not. Get up if you are coming with me. I’ll show you a better sight than daffodils, and something worthier of conversation.”