Part 4 (1/2)

She pressed her hand to her heart as she spoke, a pang of keen pain had shot through it; she turned pale, and her eyes still blazed.

”I don't believe it a bit,” she said. ”I'll go and find father and ask him if its true; I know it isn't true.”

”There's father coming into the field,” said Boris. ”Yes, it's true enough, but you can ask him.”

”Well, my man,” said the Squire, who came upon the scene at this moment, ”your master has sent you for the colts, I suppose? Here they are, as----Why, what's the matter, Nell? How white you are, child, and--not so tight, Nell, not so tight, you're half strangling me! What is it, my love--what is it?”

”You haven't sold Robin and Joe, father?”

”Oh, now, my little girl”--the Squire began to pat Nell's trembling hands soothingly. He looked hard into her quivering face, then, bending down, whispered something in her ear.

No one else heard the words.

Nell's frantic grasp relaxed; she let her hands fall to her sides and looked piteously round.

Robin and Joe had both followed her across the paddock. Robin expected his russet apple--Joe looked for his canter with Nell on his back.

”There's a brave little girl,” said her father. ”'Pon my word, I wouldn't do it if I could help it.”

”No, father dear; of course not.”

”You're a plucky young 'un,” said her father admiringly. Boris and Kitty came close; the grooms and the horse-dealer also approached. There was a sort of ring round Nell and the colts.

”Please, father, may I give Robin his apple?” she asked. ”He has earned it. May he have it?”

The Squire nodded.

”Of course he may,” he said; then he turned to the horse dealer.

”My little girl is fond of these creatures,” he said. ”I hope you will have patience for a moment or two.”

The man touched his hat respectfully.

”Certainly, sir,” he answered, ”as long as the young lady likes; there's no manner of hurry, and perhaps little miss would like to have another canter. I never see'd no one sit so bird-like on a horse--never, in the whole of my born days.”

”Do you hear that, Nell?” said her father. ”Would you like another canter? I didn't know you could ride bare-backed.”

She smiled up at him, a perfectly brave smile; there were no tears in her eyes, although there were black shadows under them, and her face was as white as a little snowflake.

Robin munched his apple, and Joe came close to Nell and rubbed his head against her shoulder.

She fed him also, to his own great surprise, for he did not think that he had earned a morsel, and then, without a word, turned and walked out of the paddock.

Boris ran after her.

”I say, Nell!” he exclaimed, panting. ”Would you like a white rat? I have four, and I--I'll give you one if you'll promise not to forget to feed it.”

Nell stood still when Boris made this offer, and looked down into his ruddy, brown, sunburnt face. Boris had bright eyes, as round as two moons. The giving up of one of his white rats meant a great deal to him.

Nell carefully weighed the value of the offer.