"Then won't you get in and drive for me? Prince is acting very badly to-day." Robert did not wait for the carriage to stop, but with his usual activity clambered in, and was at the lady's side in an instant. "Now," he said, "let me take the reins." "If you are sure that you can drive," said Miss Stafford, doubtfully. "You shall see for yourself," answered Robert, confidently. He held the reins with a firm hand. The horse, though immediately sensible that there was a new hand at the helm, if I may speak figuratively, wasn't quite ready to yield. Seeing that he was still fractious, Robert took the whip and brought it down smartly on the horse's flanks. "Oh, what are you doing?" asked the lady in alarm. "Prince will run away with us!" "Let him try it," said Robert, his eyes flashing. "If I can't subdue him, I'll sell out to some one that can!" This was a boy's expression, but his confident manner served to reassure Miss Stafford, though Prince did really undertake to run. The road, however, was good, there were no carriages to encounter, and Robert gave him his head, holding the reins, however, in a strong, firm grasp. "I never rode so fast in my life!" said Miss Stafford nervously, as they flew over the road. "Don't let us tip over." "No, ma'am, I won't." After a while Prince slackened his speed. It was rather a warm day, and he found that it was not quite so good fun running as he found it when he felt that his driver was frightened—now the least sign of fractiousness was instantly followed by a smart stroke of the whip. "I believe you do understand horses," said Miss Stafford at length. "It's my business to understand them," answered Robert. "You ain't a—jockey, are you?" asked the lady. "No; I have been a circus-rider." "You don't say so!" ejaculated the lady. "You can't jump through hoops and all them things, can you?" "Yes, ma'am." "You are not with a circus now, are you?" Robert explained that he had left circus life for a time, but had been thrown out of employment unexpectedly. "I am going to a birthday party of a little niece of mine," said Miss Stafford. "She is twelve years old to-day. There will be twenty or thirty boys and girls there. I wish you could do something to amuse them. It would make us all the more welcome." "I am a little of a magician," said Robert. "If you think they would like to see some tricks—" "The very thing!" exclaimed Miss Stafford, enthusiastically. "They are all fond of tricks. Where did you learn?" When Miss Stafford was informed that Robert had learned of a real magician, that is of a professor of magic, she was very much pleased. "I will engage you, then," she said, "for the afternoon and evening. When I say engage you, I mean I will pay you for your trouble." "Oh, I won't charge anything," said Robert.