He looked at his watch and then down the lane. "Think you could get home safe from here? Fac' is I'm behind with my vegules and left them in my other coat." "Oh, yes," Percival agreed. "This is just by the corner, you know." "Well, then," said Egbert, halting, "you see, if I don't take 'em fair, can't expec' them to treat me fair, can I?" Percival assented: "Oh, no." "Sure you'll be all right?" "Oh, yes. I'll be a horse, you see. Just say 'gee up!' will you?" "Gee up!" said Egbert. "Stead-_ey_!" cried Percival, prancing. "Stead-_ey_! Goodnight!" and bounded off. "Nice little f'ler," commented Egbert; and hurried back to the vegules. Where the lane turned to the village, horse Percival was made, as he declared, to shy dreff'ly. He galloped almost into the arms of two figures that stepped suddenly out of the dusk. "Oh, Percival!" Aunt Maggie cried and kissed him. "Oh, Percival, where _have_ you been?" "Say 'whoa!" cried Percival. "Say 'whoa!' Aunt Maggie. I'm a horse--a white one, you know." Two heavy hands pressed the white horse's shoulders, stilling its plunges. "You're a bad little boy, that's what you are," Honor exclaimed, "running off and frightening your Auntie, and not caring nor minding. Don't Care comes before a fall, as I've told you many times and--" "_Pride_ comes before a fall," corrected Percival. "You've got it wrong _again_, Honor," and Honor's flow was checked with the suddenness that had become the established termination of attempts to reprove Percival since he had learnt the right phrasing of her store of confused maxims. She took his hand while she pondered doubtfully upon the correction, and with Aunt Maggie holding the other, he skipped along, bubbling over with his adventures. "I've got bandages on both my legs, Aunt Maggie--oh, and Hunt has got one of his legs in the grave, just fancy that! I've been having tea with Rollo; and Lady Burdon put on these bandages and she wants me to go and play with Rollo every day. _Do_ let me, Aunt Maggie. I say, you are squeezing my hand most dreffly, you know." Aunt Maggie relaxed the sudden contraction of her fingers. "Lady Burdon--yes?--tell from the very beginning, Percival dear." "Well, she said 'Promise to tell your Aunt Maggie I will come and ask her to let you be Rollo's little friend and'--Aunt _Maggie_! You're _hurting_!" She recollected herself again and patted the small fingers. "Tell from the very beginning, dear. How did you meet them?" "Well, you understand, I was catching a frog--" "Post Offic" was reached, supper was swallowed, his merry head beginning to droop and nod, while still he excitedly recounted all his adventures. He was almost asleep when Aunt Maggie undressed him and put him to bed. She sat a long time beside him, watching him while he slept. CHAPTER III LADY BURDON COMES TO "POST OFFIC" I