“And then that poor little darling!” said Lady Piercey, regretfully. “But,” she added with a firmer tone, “Meg spoils the boy to such a degree that he’ll be ruined before he’s a man. Look at her petting him as if he’d been in any danger; but she never had an ounce of sense. Get me my things, Parsons; I’ll go down and sit in the air a bit and talk to my boy.” Gervase had fallen out of his unusual liveliness before his mother succeeded in reaching the beech avenue, but he came forward at her call, and permitted her to take his arm. “I like to see you in spirits,” the old lady said, “but you mustn’t shake about your father like that. Dunning’s safest for an old man.” “I’ll drive you out in the phaeton, mother, if you like, this afternoon.” “No, my dear; I feel safest in the big carriage with the cobs, and old Andrews; but it’s a pleasure to see you in such spirits, Gervase; you’re like my own old boy.” “You see,” said Gervase, with his imbecile, good-humoured smile, “I’ve promised to do all I can to please you at home.” “Ah!” cried the old lady, “and who might it be that made you promise that? and why?” Gervase broke into a laugh. “Wouldn’t you just like to know?” he said. CHAPTER VII. “Osy,” said Mrs. Osborne, “you mustn’t let cousin Gervase get hold of you like that again.” “He’s a dood horse,” said the little boy, “when I sit tight. I have to sit vewey tight; but next time I’ll get on him’s both shoulders, and hold him like a real horse. He’s dot a too narrow back, and too far up from the ground.” “But listen to me, Osy. It makes me too frightened. You mustn’t ride him again.” “I’ll not wide him if I can help it,” said Osy, reddening with mingled daring and terror, “but he takes me up before I can det far enough off, and I tan’t run away, mamma.” “But you must run away, Osy, when I tell you.” The child looked up at her doubtfully. “It was you that told me gemplemens don’t run away.” “Not before an enemy, or that,” said Margaret, taking refuge in the vague, “but when it’s only for fun, Osy.” “Fun isn’t never serous, is it, mamma?” “It would be very serious if you fell from that fo----, from Cousin Gervase’s shoulder, Osy. Go out for a walk this afternoon, dear, with nurse.” “I don’t like nurse. I like Uncle Giles best. And I’m the outwider, telling all the people he’s toming.” “You see Uncle Giles has got something else to do.”