the way, and they all followed.
The big yellow 'bus with its four horses stood in the roadway outside
the platform palings. The driver and conductor, who knew the Trenires
quite well, beamed on them, and touched their hats.

"I've kept the front seat for you, missie," said Weller, the conductor,
to Kitty, and he moved towards the short ladder placed against the 'bus
in readiness for her to mount. "Will the other ladies go 'pon top,
too?" he asked; and Kitty, with one foot on the lower step, looked round
at her aunt to offer her her seat.

"Katherine! Katherine! what _are_ you doing? Come down, child, at once.
You surely aren't thinking of clambering up that ladder? Let Dan do so
if he likes, but you will please come inside with Anna and me."

Kitty's face fell visibly. She could hardly believe, though, that she
had heard aright. "I feel ill if I go inside, Aunt Pike," she
explained. "Father always lets us go on top; he tells us to. He says
it is healthier; and it is such a lovely evening, too, and the drive is
beautiful. I am sure you would--"

"Katherine, please, I must ask you not to stand there arguing in that
rude manner with me," said Mrs. Pike with intense severity, "Get inside
the omnibus at once. I will speak to your father on the subject when I
get home." And poor Kitty, so long mistress of her own actions, walked,
bitterly humiliated, under the eyes of the many onlookers, and got into
the hot, close 'bus, where the air was already heavy with the mixed
smell of straw and paint and velvet cushions, which she never could
endure.

"Anthony, you may go outside with Daniel if you prefer it, as the 'bus
is rather full inside," said Mrs. Pike, stopping him as he clambered in
after Kitty. But Tony declined the offer.

"I would rather go with Kitty, please," he said loyally. "I'd--I'd
rather." He had a feeling that by so doing he was somehow helping her.

Kitty, with compressed lips and flashing eyes, took her seat. She did
not notice who was beside her; her only object was to get as far as
possible from her aunt, for, feeling as she felt then, she could not
possibly talk to her.

"It is a _shame_ to make us go inside. It always makes me feel ill too;
but I've always got to," whispered a low, indignant voice through the
rattling and rumbling of the 'bus. With a start of surprise Kitty
turned quickly to see who had spoken, and found that she had seated
herself beside her cousin Anna.

For a