“Oh, I shall not lend you anything; neither shall I give you very much,—seeing that your aunt is trying to teach you a much needed lesson in forethought,—but I think, considering how and why your allowance was used, dear, that I may be allowed to stretch a point this time.” And then Grandmother went on to propose that the club should make use of one of the rooms in the ell,—a big, sunny room, with convenient access to the back stairway.
“Grandmother!” Blue Bonnet declared, “it’ll be perfectly lovely. You are certainly the dearest grandmother that ever was!”
The new club went on its first ride the following Saturday afternoon. The mounts were varied. Blue Bonnet, on Darrel’s mare, leading the march, both figuratively and literally. Debby, Ruth, and Susy had mustered fairly good horses; Kitty’s Black Pete had occasional moments of brilliancy, and more than occasional ones of obstinacy; Amanda’s sober gray mare was quite as active as Amanda wished; while Sarah plodded along on what Kitty called the most ministerial of horses, taking her ride as gravely as she did most things.
“Sarah!” Kitty demanded impatiently, “did your mother tell you not to go out of sight of the house?”
Sarah’s light blue eyes expressed wonder. “Certainly not; how could I be out riding if she had?”
“Oh, you are out riding!” Kitty said. “I thought you were standing still!”
Blue Bonnet wheeled about. “As president of this club, I positively forbid any more impertinence from our youngest member. You are the youngest, you know, Kitty—you’re only fourteen. Come on, Sarah.”
“She says she is coming,” Kitty retorted. “She’s moving almost as fast as a glacier.”
Blue Bonnet’s rides were by no means confined to the weekly ones with the club. Darrel’s mare had been transferred to the Clyde stables; and on most afternoons, a slender, bright-faced girl in dark blue riding-habit was to be seen riding at a brisk pace in and out about Woodford. Sometimes with one or more companions; often alone; but always attended by a small brown dog, who appeared to think these riding expeditions had been instituted for his special benefit.
They were coming home one afternoon—Blue Bonnet and Solomon—from a swift canter, when Blue Bonnet caught sight of some one waiting on the front piazza. The girl’s heart gave a sudden leap. With a quick dash forward, she reached the steps as Mr. Ashe came down them.