impulsively as was her habit.

"'Course he wouldn't. Hey, Chip! Hold on a minute!" The Old Man stood
waving his pipe in the doorway.

Chip jerked his horse to a stand-still and half turned in the saddle.

"What?"

"Dell wants t' go along. Will yuh saddle up Concho for 'er? There's no
hurry, anyhow, you've got plenty uh time. Dell's afraid one uh the kids
might fall downstairs ag'in, and she'd miss the case."

"I'm not, either," said the Little Doctor, coming to stand by her
brother; "it's too nice a day to stay inside, and my muscles ache
for a gallop over the hills."

Chip did not look up at her; he did not dare. He felt that, if he met
her eyes--with the laugh in them--he should do one of two undesirable
things: he should either smile back at her, weakly overlooking the
hypocrisy of her friendliness, or sneer in answer to her smile, which
would be very rude and ungentlemanly.

"If you had mentioned wanting a ride I should have been glad to
accompany you," remarked Dunk, reproachfully, when Chip had ridden,
somewhat sullenly, back to the stable.

"I didn't think of it before--thank you," said the Little Doctor, lightly,
and hurried away to put on her blue riding habit with its cunning little
jockey cap which she found the only headgear that would stay upon