fire and excitement, and caught the reins like an old huntsman,
and with such a grasp as was amazing. She sat up with a straight, strong
back, her whole face glowing and sparkling with exultant joy. Rake
seemed to answer to her excited little laugh almost as much as to her
hand. It seemed to wake his spirit and put him in good-humour. He
started off with her down the avenue at a light, spirited trot, while
she, clinging with her little legs and sitting firm and fearless, made
him change into canter and gallop, having actually learned all his paces
like a lesson, and knowing his mouth as did his groom, who was her
familiar and slave. Had she been of the build ordinary with children of
her age, she could not have stayed upon his back; but she sat him like a
child jockey, and Sir Jeoffry, watching and following her, clapped his
hands boisterously and hallooed for joy.

"Lord, Lord!" he said. "There's not a man in the shire has such another
little devil--and Rake, 'her horse,'" grinning--"and she to ride him so.
I love thee, wench--hang me if I do not!"

She made him play with her and with Rake for a good hour, and then took
him back to the stables, and there ordered him about finely among the
dogs and horses, perceiving that somehow this great man she had got hold
of was a creature who was in power and could be made use of.

When they returned to the house, he had her to eat her mid-day meal with
him, when she called for ale, and drank it, and did good trencher duty,
making him the while roar with laughter at her impudent child-talk.

"Never have I so split my sides since I was twenty," he said. "It makes
me young again to roar so. She shall not leave my sight, since by chance
I have found her. 'Tis too good a joke to lose, when times are dull, as
they get to be as a man's years go on."

He sent for her woman and laid strange new commands on her.

"Where hath she hitherto been kept?" he asked.

"In the west wing, where are the nurseries, and where Mistress Wimpole
abides with Mistress Barbara and Mistress Anne," the woman answered, with
a frightened curtsey.

"Henceforth she shall live in this part of the house where I do," he
said. "Make ready the chambers that were my lady's, and prepare to stay
there with her."

From that hour the child's fate was sealed. He made himself her
playfellow, and romped with and indulged her until she became fonder of
him than of any groom or stable-boy she had been compan