at there might
be less risk. Still, she must have been very intelligent to have done
the office."

"She is thirteen years old, although she is small," replied Edward.
"And intelligent she certainly is, as you may see by her countenance.
Who would ever have imagined that our sisters would have been able to do
what they are doing now? It's an old saying, `We never know what we can
do till we try.' By the bye, Humphrey, I met a famous herd of forest
ponies the other day, and I said to myself, `I wonder whether Humphrey
will be clever enough to take one of them, as he has the wild cattle?
For Billy is getting old, and we want a successor.'"

"We want more than a successor to Billy, Edward, we want two more to
help him--and I have the means of maintaining two more ponies if I could
catch them."

"I fear that you will never manage that, Humphrey," said Edward,
laughing.

"I know well what you mean," replied Humphrey: "you wish to dare me to
it--well, I won't be dared to anything, and I most certainly will try to
catch a pony or two; but I must think about it first, and when I have
arranged my plan in my mind I will then make the attempt."

"When I see the ponies in the yard I will believe it, Humphrey. They
are as wild as deer and as fleet as the wind, and you cannot catch them
in a pit-fall."

"I know that, good brother; but all I can say is, that I will try what I
can do, and I can do no more--but not at present, for I am too busy."

Three days after this conversation Oswald Partridge made his appearance,
having been sent by the Intendant to tell Edward that he should come
over on the following day to take away little Clara.

"And how is she to go?" said Edward.

"He will bring a little nag for her, if she can ride--if she cannot, she
must ride in the cart which will come for the baggage."

"Clara, can you ride a horse?"

"Yes," replied Clara, "if it does not jump about too much. I always
rode one when I lived in Dorsetshire."

"This won't jump about, my little lady," said Oswald, "for he is thirty
years old, I believe, and as steady as an old gentleman ought to be."

"I have had some conversation with Master Heatherstone," continued
Oswald to Edward. "He is much pleased with you, I can tell you. He
said, that in times like these he required young men like you about him;
and that as you would not take the berth of verderer, he must find one
better suited for you, for he said you were too good for such