and Norman whether they would
like to make another excursion with the carriage. "Oh yes! I shall
like it very much," exclaimed Norman. "Please cut me another long
stick, for Fanny broke the one you gave me the other day."

Fanny did not say why she broke it, so the laird cut another long thin
wand, and gave it to Norman.

"Ah, this will make my horse go on at a good quick pace," he observed,
flourishing it. "I won't ask you to drag me up the hill, because you
can't," he said to Fanny, "so if you will pull, I'll push behind."

"That is very right of you," observed the laird, as his young friends
set off on their excursion. "He is a fine little fellow, though too
much addicted to boasting."

Fanny, with Norman pushing behind, soon dragged the carriage up the
hill. He then declared that he was tired, and getting in told her to
move on.

As the ground was tolerably smooth, she was able to do so at a speed
which satisfied the young gentleman.

"Capital," he cried out, flourishing his stick, "my horse draws fast, go
on, go on; now see if you can't gallop."

Fanny exerted herself to the utmost, and the air being pure and fresh
she felt in good spirits.

The ground after some time became rather rougher, but Norman did not
mind the bumping and thumping of the carriage, though it was much harder
work for Fanny.

She at last began to go slower.

"Can't you keep it up," he cried out. "If you do not! Remember I have
got my stick!"

"You must also remember how I treated you the last time," said Fanny,
"and if you use your stick as you did then, I will leave you in the
carriage and run away."

"You had better not," said Norman. "You promised to take care of me.
Mamma will be angry if you leave me on the moor all alone by myself."

"Very well, do not beat me with your stick, and I will drag you on as
fast as I can," said Fanny.

Norman remembering that Fanny had broken his stick before, thought it
would be wise not to tempt her to do so again, and therefore, though he
continued to flourish it, and now and then to touch her frock, he did
not venture to beat her.

Fanny went on contentedly, sometimes turning round to speak to him and
sometimes stopping to rest. As the ground looked smoother to the right,
Fanny turned off from the main track and went towards a clump of trees
which she saw in the distance, knowing that it would serve as a guide to
her and believing she could easily find her way back again.