Accordingly, she dropped her ears back, gave an odd little kick with her
hind legs, and swung round a corner with the carriage on two wheels
behind her.

"Allyn," Theodora said, when they had gone around another corner in the
same uncertain fashion; "now you must mind sister and do just what she
says." The girl's face was white to the lips; but her voice was steady
and brave. "Climb over the back of the seat, lie down flat in the bottom
of the carriage, and then roll out on the ground."

"I don't want to," whined the child. "I wants to ride."

"But you must, or sister won't take you again. You may be thrown out and
hurt, if you don't mind sister."

"It hurts to roll out," he argued.

"No; not a bit." Theodora felt herself a heartless liar; but she had
lost all control of Vigil, and she knew that this was the best chance of
safety for her baby brother. "Now hold on tight. I don't believe you can
climb over."

All the boy nature inherent in Allyn responded to the challenge. Lithe
as a little monkey, he scrambled over the seat, lay down and took the
fateful roll. Vigil shied, just then, and Allyn landed in a ball, in a
bed of burdocks. His wails followed the flying horse; but they were
wails of temper, more than of physical injury, and Theodora's main
anxiety was relieved.

[Illustration: THEODORA WENT FLYING ACROSS THE ROAD.]

Two blocks farther down the street, the buggy collided with a hay wagon.
There was a crash, the horse broke free, and Theodora went flying
across the road, landing in an indiscriminate, dusty pile just in front
of the Farringtons' carriage.

That evening, the doctor came into the library, where his wife sat alone
in the fire-light. He looked tired and worried, as he threw himself down
into an easy chair. His wife came forward to his side.

"You poor old boy!" she said tenderly, as she stroked his hair.

He smiled wearily.

"I wouldn't have had it happen for any amount of money, Bess," he said,
as he reached up and took her hand. "It's smashed the buggy, and
demoralized my favorite horse, and bumped Allyn, and given us all a
scare."

"How is Theodora?"

"Badly frightened and very meek. Her bruises don't count; but I don't
think she'll do it again. I gave her a plain talk, while I was looking
over her wounds, and I think she knows I mean what I say. It is a
miracle that both children weren't killed; but Allyn is all right now,
and Teddy will be, in a day or two. She will be rather st