"Are you going from home to-day, uncle?"

"Yes, merch i, didn't I tell you? I am going to a meeting at Pen
Morien, and won't be back to-night."

"Are you going to walk?"

"Why, no! ride, of course. Where's Malen?"

"I think Shoni was just putting her into the cart."

"Oh! I forgot to tell him," said the absent-minded man. "Tell him to
saddle her, and bring her here at once."

Valmai ran out, and picking her way daintily through the stubble of the
farm-yard, caught sight of Shoni fastening the last buckle of Malen's
cart harness.

"Wants her saddled?" he said, looking hot and flustered. "Dear, dear!
there never was such a man! Wasn't I settle with him yesterday to take
the two pigs to the fair to be sell? There's what it is to live in the
clouds!" and, grumbling, he unfastened the buckles, and soon led Malen
saddled and bridled to the door.

"Didn't you tell me we was to sell the pigs to-day?" he said sulkily,
as soon as his master was seated safely on the saddle.

Essec Powell, who had for some time been hopping about on one leg,
finding it difficult to mount the spirited Malen, now looked