Part 10 (2/2)
”Oh! but I begged him so hard that he let me go,” said Bunny; ”he didn't want to let me, and--”
”Miss Bunny, I'm ashamed of you,” cried John, riding up beside her.
”You promised you'd ride quite quiet beside me, and you broke your word. I'm very thankful to you, sir, I'm sure,” he continued, turning to the young stranger. ”In another minute this little lady might have been thrown on her head and been killed on the spot.”
”Oh, dear! oh, dear! it wasn't my fault,” cried Bunny, bursting into tears; ”I only mean't to go round beside Mervyn, and Frisk ran away and--”
”Don't cry, dear,” said the strange lad kindly; ”you must not say another word to her, my man,” he continued, turning to the groom; ”she is rather shaken with her fright, and it's best to leave her alone. Take hold of this pony and I will go and get your young lady some fresh water; that will do her good.”
”Very well, sir,” said John, pulling the leading rein once more from his pocket, and fastening it on to Frisk's bridle with an angry jerk. ”It's not my place to scold, Miss Bunny, but a young lady should keep her word, and not get a servant into trouble.”
”But I didn't mean to break my word, John, indeed I didn't,” sobbed Bunny. ”Oh! why did papa leave us? oh, dear! oh, dear!”
”Drink this, you poor little mite,” said her new friend as he held a flask full of fresh water to her lips. ”It will do you ever so much good. I will bathe your face for you, and then you will see how comfortable you will feel, but you must not cry any more.”
”Thank you so much,” said Bunny, drinking off the water; ”it is very cool and nice.”
”Yes,” the boy answered, ”it is very refres.h.i.+ng, but this will do you more good, I am sure;” and, removing her hat, he took a neatly-folded, perfectly clean handkerchief from his pocket, shook it out, and, dipping it into the water, bathed the child's face as tenderly as a girl might have done.
”You are very kind,” said Bunny, as she raised her big blue eyes to his face; ”you are a nice good boy,” and she raised her face to give him a kiss.
”That's right,” he said smiling; ”you are beginning to look more cheerful,” and, stooping, he kissed her gently on the forehead.
At this moment the sound of horses' feet was heard coming along the road, and Mr. Dashwood soon appeared, riding quickly towards them.
”What is the matter?” he cried in alarm, as, drawing up sharply, he sprang from his horse and rushed to his little girl's side.
”Oh! papa, papa!” cried the child, running into her father's arms, ”your poor Bunny was nearly killed, only this nice boy stopped Frisk and took me off his back.”
”My poor darling!” cried Mr. Dashwood, lifting her gently from the ground, and smoothing back her ruffled hair, ”I am very thankful to G.o.d that you are not hurt. Thank you, too, my lad, for your kind and ready a.s.sistance,” he said to the young stranger, grasping him warmly by the hand, ”and now tell me, sir,” he cried with a stern look, as he turned to the groom, ”how it is that the child whom I left in your care came to be in such danger.”
”If you please, sir, Miss Bunny asked--” began John very nervously.
”Yes, papa, I--it was all my fault,” interrupted the little girl; ”don't scold John. I wanted to show Mervyn that I could ride better than he does, and as I could not do so properly with John holding me by the rein, I begged him to let me go, and I promised to ride quietly; but I whipped Frisk, and he ran off so fast that I got frightened, and--”
”It was very wrong of you, John, to allow the child to ride without a rein, and I am really angry and vexed that you should not have taken more care of her when she was left in your charge.”
”Indeed, sir, I am very sorry, and it shall never happen again,”
said John.
”I hope not,” said Mr. Dashwood; ”and as for you, Bunny, I am very much surprised that you should have been so naughty. You know I told you you could not manage Frisk without a leading rein.”
”Yes, I know you did, dear papa,” said Bunny, as she rubbed her little face up and down against her father's cheek, ”but don't scold us any more. We are all very sorry, aren't we, John?”
”Very, Miss,” answered the groom; ”I'd rather have died than let any harm come to you, an' I hope master will forgive me for lettin' you have your own way about the rein.”
”I forgive you this time, John,” said Mr. Dashwood; ”but remember for the future you are to keep Miss Bunny well to your side when you take her out to ride on her pony.”
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