Beatrice swooped down upon him and gathered him so close she came near choking him. “You darling. Oh, Dorman!”
Dorman squirmed away from her. “I los' one shiny penny, Be'trice—and I couldn't open de door. Help me find my shiny penny.”
Keith picked him up and set him upon one square shoulder. “We'll take you up to your auntie, first thing, young man.”
“I want my one shiny penny. I want it!” Dorman showed symptoms of howling again.
“We'll come back and find it. Your auntie wants you now, and grandmama.”
Beatrice, following after, was treated to a rather unusual spectacle; that of a tall, sun-browned fellow, with fringed chaps and brightly gleaming spurs, racing down the path; upon his shoulder, the wriggling form of an extremely disreputable small boy, with cobwebs in his curls, and his once white collar a dirty rag streaming out behind.
CHAPTER 6. Mrs. Lansell's Lecture.
When the excitement had somewhat abated, and Miss Hayes was convinced that her idol was really there, safe, and with his usual healthy appetite, and when a messenger had been started out to recall the searchers, Dorman was placed upon a chair before a select and attentive audience, and invited to explain, which he did.
He had decided to borrow some little wheels from the bunkhouse, so he could ride his big, high pony home. Mr. Cameron had little wheels on his feet, and so did Uncle Dick, and all the mens. (The audience gravely nodded assent.) Well, and the knob wasn't too high when he went in, but when he tried to open the door to go out, it was away up there! (Dorman measured with his arm.) And he fell down, and all his shiny pennies rolled and rolled. And he looked and looked where they rolled, and when he counted, one was gone. So he looked and looked for the one shiny penny till he was tired to death. And so he climbed up high, into a funny bed on a shelf, and rested. And when he was rested he couldn't open the door, and he kicked and kicked, and then Be'trice came, and Mr. Cam'ron.