carriage? How funny it looks! And where am I to sit?"

"On the sacking," said I.

"And how am I to get there?"

"Put your foot on the hub," said I. "I'll help you."

I sprang up and took her two little gloved hands in my own. As she came
over the side her breath blew in my face, sweet and warm, and all that
vagueness and unrest seemed in a moment to have been shredded away from
my soul. I felt as if that instant had taken me out from myself, and
made me one of the race. It took but the time of the flicking of the
horse's tail, and yet something had happened, a barrier had gone down
somewhere, and I was leading a wider and a wiser life. I felt it all in
a flush, but shy and backward as I was, I could do nothing but flatten
out the sacking for her. Her eyes were after the coach which was
rattling away to Berwick, and suddenly she shook her handkerchief in the
air.

"He took off his hat," said she. "I think he must have been an officer.
He was very distinguished looking. Perhaps you noticed him--a gentleman
on the outside, very handsome, with a brown overcoat."

I shook my head, with all my flush of joy changed to foolish resentment.

"Ah! well, I shall never see him again. Here are all the green braes
and the brown winding road just the same as ever. And you, Jack, I
don't see any great change in you either. I hope your manners are
better than they used to be. You won't try to put any frogs down my