t thrown out. Keep quiet now, missie, and we'll
look after everything."

But the little girl would not be silenced.

"Which one is hurt?" she asked. "Which one? Is it Marshall or
Snelgrove?"

"I don't know," said Kink. "They're both alike."

"Oh, no, they're not," said the little girl. "Marshall has a white star
between his eyes. Oh, do say Marshall's all right! Marshall's my very
own."

"I'll go and see," said Gregory; and he ran off, and came back to say
that Marshall was the one that seemed to be all right, but Snelgrove
had broken his leg and couldn't move.

"Oh, I'm so glad about Marshall," said the girl; "but poor Tommy, how
sorry he'll be!"

"See if you can get up, missie," said Kink. "I want to know if you're
hurt anywhere."

The little girl sat up and then stood up. "I feel all right," she said,
"only very giddy."

Kink uttered a sigh of relief. "Drink this cold water," he said. "That
will make you much better. And now tell us all about the accident,
because we shall have to let your people know."

"Well," said the little girl, "mother and I were driving to Ashton to
see Aunt May; and mother had just got out to leave the _British
Workman_ at old Mr. Dimmock's, when the ponies took fright and ran
away. I held the reins as long as I could, and when I saw your caravan
in front I screamed to warn you, and then there was a terrible crash,
and I don't remember anything else."

"And what will your poor mamma be doing?" said Kink.

"Oh, poor mother!" said the little girl. "She'll be so nervous! But
she'll be coming after us as fast as she can, because she saw them
start off."

"Then I think," said Kink, "the best thing to do is for us to leave
this man here to mind the ponies and tell your mamma you're all right;
and we'll go on to Ashton as quick as we can, and send back some help.
We'll take you to your aunt's, missie, and the man will tell your mamma
when she comes up what we've done. I'm so glad you're not hurt."

So Hester and Gregory were left with the little girl, who told them her
name was Patricia Mordan, and she was ten, and they lived near
Fladbury, and she had a King Charles spaniel; while Kink urged Moses
towards Ashton, which was only a mile or so away.

Hester put the kettle on the Beatrice stove, thinking that tea was the
best thing, and Gregory sat down and looked at their guest, and thought
what a splendid adventure it was to tell the others about when they met
them later.

Patr