r friends, who were going to escort her to the
depot.

"You'll want all your horses. What could I ride?"

"If I find you a good horse and saddle will you go?"

"I will. I think it would be fine sport."

Laddie turned and went from sight that minute. The Princess laughed
and kept on making friends with every one, helping wait on people,
thinking of nice things to do, and just as the carriage was at the gate
for father and mother, and Sally and Peter, and every one else was
untying their horses to ride in the procession to the village, from
where I was standing on the mounting block I saw something coming down
the Little Hill. I took one look, ran to the Princess, and almost
dragged her.

Up raced Laddie, his face bright, his eyes snapping with fun. He rode
Flos, was leading the Princess' horse Maud, and carrying a big bundle
under his arm. He leaped from the saddle and fastened both horses.

"Gracious Heaven! What have you done?" gasped the Princess.

"Brought your mount," said Laddie, quite as if he were used to going to
Pryors' after the sausage grinder or the grain sacks. But the Princess
was pale and trembling. She stepped so close she touched him, and he
immediately got a little closer. You couldn't get ahead of Laddie, and
he didn't seem to care who saw, and neither did she.

"Tell me exactly what occurred," she said, just as father does when he
means to whale us completely.

"I rapped at the front door," said Laddie.

"And who opened it?" cried the Princess.

"Your father!"

"My father?"

"Yes, your father!" said Laddie. "And because I was in such a hurry, I
didn't wait for him to speak. I said: 'Good morning, Mr. Pryor. I'm
one of the Stanton boys, and I came for Miss Pryor's mount and habit.
All the young people who are on horseback are going to ride an escort
to the village, around my sister's bridal carriage, and Miss Pryor
thinks she would enjoy going. Please excuse such haste, but we only
this minute made the plan, and the train won't wait.'"

"And he?"

"He said: 'Surely! Hold one minute.' I stood on the step and waited,
and I could hear him give the order to some one to get your riding
habit quickly, and then he blew a shrill whistle, and your horse was at
the gate the fastest of anything I ever saw."

"Did he do or say----"

"Nothing about 'clods, and clowns, and grossness!' Every other word he
spoke was when I said, 'Thank you, and good morning,' and was turning