the stable door, and bade the company a hearty good-day. To this they
made reply, while Uncle Conrad asked whether I had forgotten his
counsels, and whither it was my intent to ride; whereupon I hastily
replied: "Under safe guidance, that is to say yours, to follow Ann."

My uncle slashed his boot with his whip, and asked in wrath whether I had
considered that blood would perchance be shed, and ended by counselling
me kindly: "So stay at home, little Margery!"

"I am as obedient as ever," was my ready answer, "but whereas I am now
well in the saddle, I will stay in the saddle."

At this the old man knew not whether to take a jest as a jest, or to give
me a stern order; and while he and the others were getting into their
stirrups he said: "Have done with folly when matters are so serious,
madcap child! We have enough to do to think of Ann, and more than
enough! So dismount, Margery, with all speed."

"All in good time," said I then, "I will dismount that minute when we
have found Ann. Till then the giant Goliath shall not move me from the
saddle!"

Hereupon the old man lost patience, he settled himself on his big brown
horse and cried out in a wrathfill and commanding tone: "Do not rouse me
to anger, Margery. Do as I desire and dismount."

But that moment he could more easily have made me to leap into the fire
than to leave Ann in the lurch; I raised the bridle and whip, and as the
bay broke into a gallop Uncle Conrad cried out once more, in greater
wrath than before: "Do as I bid you!" and I joyfully replied "That I