Part 30 (1/2)

”I won't, all the same,” said Harris.

The walk continued without any more exciting occurrences; and when the girls reached the farm they were greeted by Mrs. Miles, her two big boys, and the farmer himself. Here Harris dropped a curtsy and disappeared.

”Oh, I must kiss you, Mrs. Miles!” said Betty. ”And, please, this is my sister Sylvia, and this is Hester. They are twins; but, having two sets yourself, you said you did not mind seeing them and giving them tea, even though they are twins.”

”'Tain't no disgrace, missie, as I've heerd tell on,” said the farmer.

”Oh Farmer Miles, I am glad to see you!” said Betty. ”Fancy dear, kind Mrs. Haddo giving us leave to come and have tea with you!--I do hope, Mrs. Miles, you've got a very nice tea, for I can tell you I am hungry.

I've given myself an appet.i.te on purpose; for I would hardly touch any breakfast, and at dinner I took the very teeniest bit.”

”And so did I,” said Sylvia in a low tone.

”And I also,” remarked Hester.

”Well, missies, I ha' got the best tea I could think of, and right glad we are to see you. You haven't spoken to poor Ben yet, missie.”

Here Mrs. Miles indicated her eldest son, an uncouth-looking lad of about twelve years of age.

”Nor Sammy neither,” said the farmer, laying his hand on Sammy's broad shoulder, and bringing the red-haired and freckled boy forward.

”I am just delighted to see you, Ben; and to see you, Sammy. And these are my sisters. And, please, Mrs. Miles, where are the twins?”

”The twinses are upstairs, sound asleep; but they'll be down by tea-time,” said Mrs. Miles.

”And, above all things, where are the dogs?” said Betty.

”Now, missie,” said the farmer, ”them dogs has been very rampageous lately, and, try as we would, we couldn't tame 'em; so we have 'em fastened up in their kennels, and only lets 'em out at night. You shall come and see 'em in their kennels, missie.”

”Oh, but they must be let out!” said Betty, tears br.i.m.m.i.n.g to her eyes.

”My sisters love dogs just as much as I do. They must see the dogs. Oh, we must have a game with them!”

”I wouldn't take it upon me, I wouldn't really,” said the farmer, ”to let them dogs free to-day. They're that remarkable rampageous.”

”Well, take me to them anyhow,” said Betty.

The farmer, his wife, Ben and Sammy, and the three Vivian girls tramped across the yard, and presently arrived opposite the kennels where Dan and Beersheba were straining at the end of their chains. When they heard footsteps they began to bark vociferously, but the moment they saw Betty their barking ceased; they whined and strained harder than ever in their wild rapture. Betty instantly flung herself on her knees by Dan's side and kissed him on the forehead. The dog licked her little hand, and was almost beside himself with delight. As to poor Beersheba, he very nearly went mad with jealousy over the attention paid to Dan.

”You see for yourself,” said Betty, looking into the farmer's face, ”the dogs will be all right with me. You must let them loose while I am here.”

”It do seem quite wonderful,” said the farmer. ”Now, don't it, wife?”

”A'most uncanny, I call it,” said Mrs. Miles.

”But before you let them loose I must introduce my sisters to them,”

said Betty. ”Sylvia, come here. Sylvia, kneel by me.”

The girl did so. The dogs were not quite so much excited over Sylvia as they were over Betty, but they also licked their hands and wagged their tails in great delight. Hester went through the same form of introduction; and then, somewhat against his will, the farmer gave the dogs their liberty. Betty said, in a commanding tone, ”To heel, good boys, at once!” and the wild and savage dogs obeyed her.