Part 61 (2/2)
She bit her lip, and her color deepened, but instead of answering she tripped away from me toward the barn. Dapple came prancing out, and whinnied as soon as he saw her.
”Oh, he knows thee as well as I do,” said Reuben. ”He thinks thee's a jolly good girl. Thee's kind of cut me out; but I owe thee no grudge.
See how he'll come to thee now,” and sure enough, the horse came and put his nose in her hand, where he found a lump of sugar.
”I won't give you fine words only, Dapple,” she said, and the beautiful animal's spirited eyes grew mild and gentle as if he understood her perfectly.
”Heaven grant that she gives me more than words!” I muttered.
While Reuben was harnessing Dapple, Miss Warren entered the barn, saying:
”I feel a little remorseful over my treatment of Old Plod, and think I will go and speak to him.”
”May I be present at the interview?”
”Certainly.”
Either the old horse had grown duller and heavier than ever, or else was offended by her long neglect, for he paid her but little attention, and kept his head down in his manger.
”Dapple would not treat you like that, even if you hadn't a lump of sugar in your hand.”
”Dapple is peculiar,” she remarked.
”Do you mean a little ill-balanced? He was certainly very precipitate on one occasion.”
”Yes, but he had the grace to stop before he did any harm.”
”But suppose he couldn't stop? Did Old Plod give you any more advice?”
”Mr. Morton, you must cub your editorial habit of inquiring into everything. Am I a dragon?”
”I fear you more than all the dragons put together.”
”Then you are a brave man to stay.”
”Not at all. To run away would be worse than death.”
”What an awful dilemma you are in! It seems to me, however, the coolest veteran in the land could not have made a better dinner while in such peril.”
”I had scarcely eaten anything since yesterday morning. Moreover, I was loyally bound to compliment Mrs. Yocomb's efforts in the only way that would have satisfied her.”
”That reminds me that I ought to go and help Mrs. Yocomb clear away the vast debris of such a dinner.”
”Miss Warren, I have only this afternoon and evening.”
”Truly, Mr. Morton, the pathos in your tones would move a post”
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