“Inexpensive, dear. I’m trying to form myself after an approved model, of polysyllables. Paula has really been so faithful to little Fritz that I thought she would be pleased with me if I was correct. She wasn’t, though. When I put on my prettiest airs she looked at me and said,—as only Paula can say things,—‘Octave, don’t be foolish!’ It was a disappointment: but with your example before me I’ll persevere.”
The girl had rattled on in her nonsense talk till the pain in her ankle abated so that she could pull herself up, and make a fresh effort. Another burst of gayety sounded through the window, and, with a final push, she sent Melville’s heavy lounge rolling across the room, to bring up against the wall with a crash.
“I meant to do it, ‘er bust,’ as Abry-ham says. What do you think he calls me now?”
“‘Octavy—why, Octavy!’” promptly replied her cousin.
“Wrong! I am now ‘Hoppity-pat.’ That’s what I call making sport of one’s infirmities.” The girl perched herself upon the window-ledge and watched the scene out of doors with keen enjoyment, that was enhanced by the thought that her bed-ridden cousin could also witness it.
Early in their acquaintance Fritz had tried cajolery with the ancient burro who lived at his ease on the rich pastures of The Snuggery farm, and had made many attempts to ride him; but the overtures had not been met in a friendly spirit. Then Fritz’s temper had aroused.
“I will ride that homely old thing with a head as big as its body, so there! He looks like grandmother’s old hair-trunk, up in the attic, with sticks for legs.”
But appearances are often deceitful. Don’s look of dejection did not cover a meek or subdued spirit. He opposed his “won’t” to Fritzy’s “will” with a persistence that was discouraging. On the boy’s part, however, fresh attempts were as persistently made; and on this occasion seemed to promise success.
Fritz had achieved a mount. He sat with fat little legs extending at right angles from the burro’s sides, trembling, but flushed with victory.
Suddenly, Don raised his hind quarters.