sword. So I have brought him with me that he might refresh himself
with his poor children, one of which has a terrible ague; for I knew,
papa, that though I had not behaved well of late, you would not be
against my doing an act of charity." "I am, on the contrary, very glad,"
said Mr Merton, "to see you have so much gratitude in your temper. But
what is the reason that I see you thus disfigured with dirt? Surely you
must have been riding, and your horse has thrown you? And so it is, for
here is William following with both the horses in a foam."

William at that moment appeared, and, trotting up to his master, began
to make excuses for his own share in the business. "Indeed, sir," said
he, "I did not think there was the least harm in going out with Master
Tommy, and we were riding along as quietly as possible, and master was
giving me a long account of the Arabs, who, he said, lived in the finest
country in the world, which does not produce anything to eat or drink,
or wear, and yet they never want to come upon the parish, but ride upon
the most mettled horses in the world, fit to start for any plate in
England. And just as he was giving me this account, Punch took it into
his head to run away, and while I was endeavouring to catch him, he
jumped into a quagmire, and shot Master Tommy off in the middle of it."
"No," said Tommy, "there you mistake; I believe I could manage a much
more spirited horse than Punch, but I thought it prudent to throw myself
off for fear of his plunging deeper into the mire." "But how is this?"
said Mr Merton, "the pony used to be the quietest of horses; what can
have given him this sudden impulse to run away? Surely, William, you
were not so imprudent as to trust your master with spurs?" "No, sir,"
answered William, "not I; and I can take my oath he had no spurs on when
he first set out."

Mr Merton was convinced there was some mystery in this transaction, and,
looking at his son to find it out, he at length discovered the ingenious
contrivance of Tommy to supply the place of spurs, and could hardly
preserve his gravity at the sight. He, however, mildly set before him
his imprudence, which might have been attended with the most fatal
consequences--the fracture of his limbs, or even the loss of his
life--and desired him for the future to be more cautious. They then
returned to the house, and Mr Merton ordered his servants to supply his
guests with plenty of the most nourishing food.

After bre