Well, what is it?"
"It isn't John--it's John and the horses--I mean John and Dixy. Patrick
rides Dixy for exercise every day."
"Well, what's the matter? First it's John, then Dixy, then John and Dixy,
and then John and Dixy and Pat."
The girl saw through the amusement he had in teasing her and said with
gravity, "I wish you would be serious, Uncle Jim. I want five minutes of
uninterrupted attention."
The Squire exploded, "Good gracious! that is Ann Grey all over. You must
have heard her say it."
"I did, and you listen, too. Sometimes you don't, Uncle Jim. I guess you
weren't well broke when you were young."
"Great Scott! you minx! Some day a girl I know will have to stand at
attention. Go ahead."
"Pat's ruining Dixy's mouth. You ought to see him sawing at the curb. You
always rode him on the snaffle."
"That boy Pat needs a good licking, Leila."
"But Dixy don't. The fact is, Uncle Jim, you're neglecting the stables
for politics."
"Is that your own wisdom, Miss Grey? What with the weight of wisdom and
years, you're getting heavy. Try a chair."
"No, I'm quite comfy. It was Josiah who told me. He often comes up to
look over the colts, of a Sunday--"
"Nice work for Sunday, Miss Grey."
She made no direct reply. "He told me that horse ought to be ridden
by--by John or you, and no one else.
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