s fell upon a
group in the avenue, just before the entrance;--two beautiful ponies,
ready saddled and bridled, in charge of an Ion servant; old Mr.
Dinsmore, Calhoun and Arthur standing near examining and commenting upon
them with evident admiration.

"O, what beauties!" cried Dick, bounding into the midst of the group.
"Whose are they, Uncle Joe?"

"Well, sah," answered the old negro, pulling off his hat and bowing
first to one, then to the other, "dey's sent heyah, by Massa Travilla
and Miss Elsie, for two boys 'bout de size o' you, dat don' neber mean
to frighten young chillen no mo'."

The lads hung their heads in silence, the blush of shame on their
cheeks.

"Do you answer the description?" asked Calhoun, a touch of scorn in his
tones.

"Yes; for we'll never do it again," said Walter. "But it's too much:
they're too kind!" and he fairly broke down, and turned away his head to
hide the tears that would come into his eyes.

"That's a fact!" assented Dick, nearly as much moved.

"You don't deserve it," said their grandfather, severely, "and I'm much
inclined to send them back, with a request that if they're offered you
again it shall not be till a year of good conduct on your part has
atoned for the past."

"O, grandpa, you couldn't be so hard, so very hard!" cried Dick
imploringly, stroking and patting the pony nearest to him, "they're
such beauties."

"I should think you'd be ashamed to accept such gifts after the way
you've behaved," said Arthur.

"So we are; but wouldn't it be worse to send 'em back? Awful rude, I
should say." And Dick turned a half saucy, half beseeching look upon his
grandfather.

The old gentleman smiled in spite of himself, and consented, in
consideration of the boys' penitence for the past, and fair promises
for the future, to allow them to accept the generous gifts.

Uncle Joe explained which was for Dick, and which for Walter, and
springing into their saddles, they were off like a shot, their
grandfather calling after them to be back in ten minutes if they wanted
any breakfast.

Chapter Eleventh.

"If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst give him drink;
for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not
overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."
--ROMANS XII. 20, 21.

"Splendid!" cried Dick, wheeling about toward home, now half a mile
away, "but we must hurry back or grandpa will be mad. I say Wal, what
_do_ you s'pose makes Travilla