u can't make your donkey go, I shall get out."

"If you please, ma'am," answered Billy Burr serenely, "it's not my
donkey. That's why he won't go, ma'am! It's Dickie Lowe's donkey, but
he's got a cold and he had to save up for to-night, ma'am, to sing in
the Stainer. Whoa--there--get on, you! That's better!"

The donkey broke into a trot, and Denys and Audrey and Billy were
forced to do the same, but in a minute that was over and the donkey
appeared to have recovered his right mind and walked on stolidly.
Billy and Denys walking at his bridle fell into a confidential chat.

"I told Dickie how it would be," Billy said apologetically, "this one
won't go for nobody else and the other one was lame."

"Are you going to sing in Stainer's Crucifixion to-night at All
Saints'?" asked Denys with interest. "I am going to hear it. Are you
one of the boys of All Saints'? One of Miss Dolly Allan's boys?"

Billy nodded cheerily, "Do you know her?" he inquired. "When is she
coming down again?"

But the donkey had come to a standstill, and the party were forced to
do the same.

"It is perfectly ridiculous going on like this," exclaimed Audrey. "We
are a laughing stock to the neighbourhood! Billy Burr, if that is your
name, why don't you give the animal a good thrashing and _make_ him
go?"

"'Twouldn't be no use," said Billy vexedly. "I'm real sorry, ma'am.
Would you like to try another road? It's just the road he's taken
offence at."

"No, indeed! the only road I shall go is home again," cried Mrs.
Henchman. "It's too bad, though, to spoil all my afternoon like this.
Turn him round, boy, and let us get back as fast as possible. It's a
wasted afternoon."

"He'll go all right _that_ way," said Billy.

"But what about Gertrude and Mr. Greyburne?" said Denys as the little
cavalcade turned back. Oh, how she wished Gertrude had been more
amenable and had not broken up the party.

"I am sure I should not trouble about _them_," said Audrey walking on,
"I don't know why Gertrude did not stay with her hostess!"

"Yes!" said Mrs. Henchman, too worried and annoyed to remember what
she had said to make it easy for Gertrude, "that is just what I
thought. Now, what is to be done? I am not going home by myself with
this donkey for anybody."

Denys was ready to cry with vexation, and yet as Gertrude and Cecil
had been told to wait at the cottage till they came, they could not be
left there indefinitely. She ignored the remarks on Gertr