“What’s the matter?” asked Max anxiously.
“Nothing much. I was only thinking what a pity it is that things can’t always go right.”
“I don’t see what possessed you two to go off that way,” said Walter reading her thoughts.
“I don’t either,” returned Jessie turning away. “I’m going up to the house now to get a basket for the kittens.”
“I don’t believe she had a thing to do with it,” said Max to his brother when Jessie was out of hearing. “I’ll bet it was the Hallett girl that wanted to have her way, and Jess won’t tell on her.”
“That’s pretty decent of Jess then,” said Walter, “and it was pretty fine of that pony not to bolt when the wheel came off. I’ll tell you a pony like that is worth having. Ezra said he stood as still as a post till they led him away.”
“I reckon Mr. Hallett won’t want to give him up,” returned Max.
“But he’ll not let those two kids go driving off by themselves again,” remarked Walter with the superiority of his years, which were but two more than Jessie’s.
Jessie with her two brothers made the visit to the Hinsdales, and Jessie bore away the gray kitten in triumph, but her pleasure was marred by finding that the black kitten had been given to a cousin of the cook’s, so there was none for Adele.
“I am so sorry,” said Effie, “but Adele shall have first choice of the next batch.”