"Well, I cannot;" said Robina, losing some of her patience; "and what is more, I don't wish to. God meant me to be strong and to have, as you call it, a personality. Now listen. I have got a pony--oh! I have such a pretty story to tell you about it, and how I won it." "I can't listen to any story to-day." "Well, anyhow, it is here; and even Aunt Felicia loves Bo-peep and I want you to see him." "Really, this is most extraordinary," said Mrs Starling. "You have got a pony? Such a very great expense! Who bought it for you?" "Not father, mother. I won him as a prize at school. He has been sent here by a good gentleman who gave the prize, but he costs nobody else anything at all, and his name is Bo-peep: and what father and I think is this: that we might presently have a basket chair got and Bo-peep could draw you about the grounds. Then you would get better, my own mummy; and--and--I should be so happy!" Robina waited tremblingly. She wondered how her mother would take her proposal. "I am much too weak," said the invalid, after a pause, "even to go downstairs, much less to venture outside to be drawn about by your pony. But I always was interested in horses; we had a great many at my old home; and if the pony could be brought where I could see him from this window, it would--well--gratify me. Can we manage it?" "Oh yes, yes; I will go this minute." "Don't rush wildly across the room and slam the door after you, I beg of you." "Oh, no, no. I won't leave you at all. I mean, I will just go downstairs and give directions, and come back again myself." "Do, my dear: I am really interested in horses." Robina came back after a minute or two, and by and by, there was a little commotion on the badly kept lawn outside the house, for Bo-peep was led forward by Peter the groom. He wore his side-saddle, and perched on his back were both little girls, who looked perfectly radiant, and who waved their hands frantically to their mother. Mr Starling stood by, so that the poor nervous woman was not afraid of any accident happening; and lo! and behold! also belonging to the group was Miss Jennings, and she held a bunch of carrots in her hand. This tempting _bonne bouche_ was far too much for the greedy Bo-peep, who marched boldly up to the lady, rubbing his nose against her, and requesting, as clearly as pony could speak, more and more of his favourite dainties. "What a pretty creature!" exclaimed Mrs Starling. "Really, he reminds me of my old favourite horse, Prince. How happy and strong I was--as strong as you are now, Robina--when I rode Prince." "Shall we open the window, mummy? You will see him better then." Robina did so, and Mrs Starling came quite close, and bent a little out of the window, and called Bo-peep once or twice in her faint voice. "Oh, don't catch cold, dear!" screamed Miss Jennings from below. "Don't interfere, dear?" responded Mrs Starling from above.