Part 19 (1/2)

But he was gone, and I heard the snap of the lantern and the slam of the back door almost before the rocking-chair in the sitting-room that he had hitand talked tohad stopped rocking. Then I heard him calling outside Hirams window and then he ran past our window, out to the barn. I wished he had waited for Hiram, but I had an undercurrent of pleasure in hearing him run. Jonathans theory is that there is never any hurry, and now and then I like to have this notion jolted up a little.

Meanwhile the awful sounds had ceased. There was the rumble of the stable door, a pause, and Jonathans voice in conversational tones. Next came the flas.h.i.+ng of Hirams lantern, and the _tromp, tromp, tromp_, in much quicker tempo than usual, of Hirams heavy boots. Hirams theory was a good deal like Jonathans, so this also gave me pleasure. Finally, there came the flash of another lantern, and I recognized the quick, short step of Mrs. Hiram. I smiled to myself, picturing the meeting between her and Jonathan, for I knew just how Jonathan was costumed. In two minutes I heard her steps repa.s.sing, and in five minutes Jonathan returned. He was chuckling quietly.

I guess Griz got all she neededdidnt know either of em had so much s.p.u.n.k in em.

What happened?

Dont know, exactly, but when I opened that door, there was Griz, just inside, no halter on, head down, meek as Moses, as far away from Kits heels as she could getshes got the mark of them on her leg and her flank.

Is she hurt?or Kit?

No, not so far as we can see, not to amount to anythingexcept maybe Grizs feelings.

And what about Mrs. Hirams feelings?

Jonathan laughed aloud. I was inside with Kit, and she called out to know if she could help.

And what did you say?

I said, Not on your life.

So that was why she came back. Did you really say,Not on your life, or did you only imply it in your tone, while you actually said, No, thank you very much?

I really said it. At least, I dont remember conversations the way you do, but I didnt feel a bit like thanking anybody, and I dont believe I did.

Well, I wish Id heard you. One misses a good deal

You can see the stable to-morrow. Thatll keep. They must have had a time of it! The walls are marked and splintered as high as I can reach. And I dont believe Kitll cringe when Griz pa.s.ses her any more.

Of course you remember Hiram _said_ two mares didnt usually get on very well, and even when theyre chosen by a good judge of horses

After that the two did get along peaceably enough, and Jonathan a.s.sured me that all horses had these little affairs. One day we drove over to the main street of the village on an errand.

Will she stand? I questioned.

Better hitch her, perhaps, said Jonathan, getting out the rope. He snapped it into her bit-ring, then threw the other end around a post and started to make a half-hitch. But as he drew up the rope it was suddenly jerked out of his hand. He looked up and saw Griseldas patient head waving high above him on the end of an erect and rebellious neck, the hitch-rope waggling in loops and spirals in the air, and the whole outfit backing away from him with speed and decision. He was so astonished that he did nothing, and in a moment Griz had stopped backing and stood still, her head sagging gently, the rope dangling.

WellIllbe I didnt try to remember just what Jonathan said he would be, because it doesnt really matter. We both stared at Griz as if we had never seen her before. Griz looked at nothing in particular, she blinked long lashes over drowsy, dark eyes, and sagged one hip.

Shes trying to make believe she didnt do itbut she did, I said.

Something must have startled her, said Jonathan, peering up and down the deserted street. Two roosters were crowing antiphonally in near-by yards, and a dog was barking somewhere far off.

What? I said.

You never can tell, with a horse.

No, apparently not, I said, smiling to myself; and I added hastily, as I saw Jonathan go forward to her head, _Dont_ try it again, please! Ill stay by her while you go in. _Please!_ For I had detected on Jonathans face a look that I very well knew. It was the same expression he had worn that Sunday he led the calf to pasture. He made no answer, but stood examining the hitch-rope.

No use, he said, quietly releasing it and tossing its coil into the carriage, Its too rotten. If it snapped, shed be ruined.