Dummy Rugg caught the pony, after seeing that his young mistress was unhurt at Master Rayburn's cottage; and, perfectly calm now, the girl insisted upon remounting, the old man opposing her, until Dummy gave him a curious look or two, and a nod of the head. "And there is no need whatever for you to go up home with me, Master Rayburn," she said. "It is all uphill now, and the pony will not run away again." "Very well, Mistress Obstinacy," said the old man, smiling and patting her cheek, before helping her on the pony; "but I feel as if I ought to see you home safely." "There is no need, indeed," cried the girl. "Goodbye, and thank you. I'm afraid I frightened you." "You did, my child, terribly. More than you frightened yourself. I was afraid that the little girl who used to ask for rides on _my_ foot would be killed." "But it was only a gallop, Master Rayburn," said the girl, leaning forward to receive the old man's kiss. "Please, if you see Mark, don't say anything about it, or he will not lend me his pony again.--Now Dummy, let go the rein." "Come on!" growled the lad, leading the frisky little animal, and Master Rayburn chuckled a little, for the boy bent his head, rounded his shoulders, and paid not the slightest heed to the order he had received. "Do you hear, Dummy? Let go." Dummy let go of the rein by passing his arm through, and thrust his hand into his pocket. "Do you hear me, sir?" cried the girl imperiously. "Let go of that rein directly." "Have let go," grumbled the boy. "Go away from his head, and walk behind." "Run away agen if I do," said Dummy. "He will not," cried the girl angrily. "I shall hold him in more tightly." "Haven't got strength enough." "I have, sir. How dare you! Let go." "Nay: Master Mark would hit me if I did, and Sir Edward'd half-kill me." "What nonsense, sir! Let go directly." Dummy shook his big head, and trudged on by the pony. "Oh!" cried the girl, with the tears of vexation rising in her eyes. "I will not be led, as if I were a little child. Go behind, sir, directly." "Nay," growled Dummy. "Let go, sir, or I'll beat you with the whip.--Ah! where is it?" "Beat away," said Dummy. "I really will, sir, if you don't let go." Dummy laughed softly, and Mary Eden could not see his face, but she saw his shoulders shaking; and in her anger she leaned forward and tried to drag the rein from the lad's arm. "You'll have him off the path agen if you don't mind, Mistress Mary." "Where is my whip? I've lost my whip," cried the girl. "Good job--for me," said the boy, with a little laugh. "If you don't let go of that rein, directly, sir, I'll make my brother beat you," cried Mary angrily. "You won't tell him he ran away," said the boy, without turning his head. "Then my father shall, sirrah!" "Won't tell him neither, mistress." "Then I'll tell him you were rude and impertinent to me, sirrah, and he'll have you horsewhipped for that."