Helen; as I have promised her a ride up the glen, if she has pleased her
mother by attention to her morning lessons; and I think, by her merry
face, she must have earned her reward. I am going a couple of miles to see
David Little, who, you know, broke his leg last week by a fall from his
horse; and if you will go and get the pony ready, I will desire Mrs.
Martin to put up a loaf of wheaten bread, which will be a rarity to him,
and which he may perhaps relish more than his oaten cakes whilst he is
sick; and you, John, get your bonnet (boys always wear Highland bonnets,
instead of hats, in the hilly part of Scotland) and come along with us; as
you can carry the basket and open the gates for Helen. To-morrow morning
will be time enough for you to give me your answer about Mr. Laurie." John
made an awkward bow, and a scrape with his foot, and then set off in
search of the pony, which was feeding on a green flat plain by the side of
a river, which sort of meadow in that country is called a _holm_. The
animal appeared very quiet, and suffered John to come close to him,
without attempting to move; but the moment he tried to put out his hand to
take hold of him, off went the pony as fast as he could scamper. When he
got at a little distance, he stopped and looked back at John, who again
approached and attempted to lay hold of him, but with no better success.
All this was observed by Helen, for the green plat, where she stood,
overlooked the holm; and though she could not help laughing at first, on
seeing John's awkward attempts to catch the pony, yet, as she was a
good-natured little girl, she soon ran into the house, and begged a little
corn of her papa, and having put it in her pinafore, she skipped down the
lane with it to the holm, where holding it out to let Bob (for that was
the pony's name) see it, he instantly began trotting towards her, neighing
with pleasure. She then told John to throw the halter over Bob's neck
while he was eating, and he might jump on his back and ride him up to the
stable, where he would find the side-saddle. John very soon appeared in
front of the house with the pony neatly combed, brushed, and ornamented