“Now, then! Pronto [get on]!” Away dashed Kinks, bearing his double burden, as if determined to make up lost time, or to show the racing quality of his blood; but, swift as was his pace, he was no longer wild, and seemed but another young thing, such as those who rode him, overflowing with spirit and vitality.
“Ah, how good it seems! A’most like Tito!”
“Ye—es. I—I like it!” assented Beatrice, so exhilarated by the rapid motion that she forgot her fear.
“Which way now?”—as they came to the turn of the road.
“Down there, through the iron gate.”
“Is it his home,—and yours?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll give him his head;” and dropping the bridle-rein upon his shoulders, Steenie folded her arms while Kinks trotted more and more slowly over the gravel road, till he stopped, of his own accord, before the block where he was accustomed to be mounted.
Both children were speedily off upon the ground, and Steenie, feeling more at home and happier than at any time since she had parted from her four-footed friends at Santa Felisa, began examining the various straps and buckles of the gray’s harness, with a professional air which greatly impressed the watchful Beatrice.
“Who saddled this poor fellow?”