courtesy, and conducted her to the carriage. "There," said he, "Carey
has driven in our gig, and I suppose Fred and I had better go back with
him."

"Is the horse steady?" asked his aunt, anxiously.

"Dumple? To be sure! Never does wrong! do you, old fellow?" said
Alex, patting his old friend.

"And no lamps?"

"O, we know the way blindfold, and you might cross Sutton Heath a dozen
times without meeting anything but a wheelbarrow-full of peat."

"And how is the road now? It used to be very bad in my time."

"Lots of ruts," muttered Carey to his brother, who interpreted it, "A
few ruts this winter, but Dumpling knows all the bad places."

By this time Uncle Geoffrey came up, and instantly perceiving the state
of things, said, "I say, Freddy, do you mind changing places with me?
I should like to have a peep at Uncle Roger before going up to the
house, and then Dumpling's feelings won't be hurt by passing the turn
to Sutton Leigh."

Fred could not object, and his mother rejoiced in the belief that Uncle
Geoffrey would take the reins, nor did Beatrice undeceive her, though,
as the vehicle rattled past the carriage at full speed, she saw
Alexander's own flourish of the whip, and knew that her papa was
letting the boys have their own way. She had been rather depressed in