"Asleep and dreaming," answered our small hero.
"So was I—I mean I was dreaming," said the pretty girl, in a low voice.
"Yonder stands my Good Gray Horse. Would you like to ride with me?" asked Puss.
"Yes, indeed," replied the girl, quickly. "Take me for a jolly gallop." And the next minute she and Puss, Junior, were racing down the road.
THE RUNAWAY
"MERRY are the bells, and merry would they ring;
Merry was myself, and merry could I sing;
With a merry ding-dong, happy, gay, and free,
And a merry sing-song, happy let us be.
"Merry have we met, and merry have we been,
Merry let us part, and merry meet again;
With our merry sing-song, happy, gay, and free,
And a merry ding-dong, happy let us be."
"Whoa!" cried Puss, Junior, pulling in his Good Gray Horse.
"You've given me a lovely ride," said the pretty girl. "It is more than a mile from the mill. I live just over there," pointing to a cottage on the hillside.