Part 9 (1/2)
”Bunny, Bunny, you must not say such naughty things,” cried Mrs.
Dashwood shaking her finger at the mischievous child. ”But don't mind her, Mervyn. She does not ride at all so splendidly herself.
The groom or her papa always holds Frisk by a leading rein, so it would be quite impossible for her to go on as fast as she likes; so do not mind her.”
”Oh, I don't feel a bit afraid if some one holds my pony by a rein,”
said Mervyn bravely; ”not one bit; I think it will be lovely riding along together.”
”That is right,” said Mrs. Dashwood. ”I am sure you will be a clever horseman, for your papa was when he was a boy.”
”And so he is now, aunt. He has a beautiful horse, and he looks splendid on it when he goes off to ride,” cried Mervyn, smiling brightly at the recollection; ”I used to think he looked grander than any of the other officers.”
”Poor little man,” said his aunt gently, as she smoothed back the hair from his brow. ”You are very fond of your papa, Mervyn, and do you know, I think you will be like him when you grow big and strong.”
”I want to be like him in every way,” said Mervyn, ”and I mean to be an officer when I grow up.”
”And go away to that nasty, hot India,” cried Bunny; ”oh, I'd be so lonely if you went away again--please don't, Mervyn, please don't.”
”What is Mervyn not to do, my little woman?” asked Mr. Dashwood, who entered the room at this moment.
”He's not to go back to India again, because I should be so lonely without him,” cried Bunny catching hold of her papa's hand and laying her little cheek against it; ”you won't let him go, papa, will you, dear?”
”No, indeed, I couldn't think of such a thing. But I am sure he won't want to go when he hears that his papa is coming home for Christmas; eh, my boy?”
”That is good news, uncle,” cried Mervyn joyfully; ”I never thought he would come so soon. Not much fear of my wanting to go to India when he comes home.”
”So I thought,” said Mr. Dashwood. ”And now, children, when are we to have our first ride?”
”Now, now; to-day, to-day,” cried Bunny; ”dear papa, let us go off at once!”
”Very well, my dear. I thought you would like to go soon, so I told John to get the ponies and horses ready in half an hour. You had better run and get on your habit--that is, if Miss Kerr will let you both off with your afternoon lessons. What do you think, Miss Kerr, do they deserve a ride?”
”Yes, I think they do, for they have both been very good,” answered the governess with a smile; ”besides, I really don't think they look studiously inclined--they are very much excited.”
”I couldn't learn a lesson if I tried ever so,” cried Bunny, ”I really couldn't, so I am glad you are going to let us off. Good-bye, Miss Kerr; good-bye, mama I sha'n't be long, papa, dear;” and away she flew in breathless haste to the nursery.
Sophie had received a message informing her that her young lady was going out for a ride, and when Bunny went up to be dressed she found her pretty brown habit and neat felt hat laid all ready for her on the bed.
”That is a dear good Sophie,” she cried, and she was in such good humour that she allowed the maid to brush her hair and put on her habit without uttering a single cross word or complaint.
”Thank you very much, that will do nicely,” she said politely, as Sophie put the last finis.h.i.+ng touch to her curls; then taking her little whip with the pretty silver top from the maid's hand, she gathered up her skirts and ran quickly down to the hall-door.
”What a pleasure it is to dress her when she is so good and polite as that!” said Sophie to herself as she watched the little figure running away from her down the pa.s.sage. ”What a pity it is that children are so often naughty and troublesome!”
When Bunny arrived in the hall she found her papa and Mervyn quite ready to start for their ride.
”Oh, how nice Brownie looks!” cried the little girl in delight, as her cousin was lifted on to his new pony; ”but I don't think he is as handsome as you, old Frisk. Is he, papa?”
”I don't know, I am sure, dear,” answered her papa, laughing; ”but I suppose you like Frisk best because he is your own.”
”Yes, I suppose I do,” said Bunny, and placing her little foot on her papa's hand she sprang nimbly to her saddle. ”Good-bye, Miss Kerr, good-bye.”