"Won't yo' jump, missie?" asked Bud eagerly. The delight of his life was
to see his young mistress take a fence.

"Not this time," answered Peggy over her shoulder. Bud opened the gate
as they came around again and as Peggy cried: "Four bells, Shashai," the
colt sprang through, Tzaritza and Roy joining in with a happy bark and
neigh.

All so simply, so easily done by love's gentle rule.




CHAPTER III

"DADDY NEIL"


"Stand there, little girl. Why, why--how has it come about! When did you
do it? I went away nine months ago leaving a little girl in Mammy Lucy's
and Harrison's charge and I have returned to find a young lady. Peggy,
baby, what have you done with my little girl?"

Commander Stewart stood in the big living-room of Severndale, his hand
upon Peggy's shoulder as he held her at arm's length to look at her in
puzzled surprise. He had just experienced one of those startling
revelations which often arouse parents to the fact that their children
have stolen a march upon them, and sprung into very pleasing young men
or women while they themselves have been in an unobserving somnolent
state. It is invariably a shock and one which few parents escape.