"You mean you might break Tell's, eh?"
"Well, dad, I didn't say that."
"No, Archie, but you thought it."
"I'm afraid, dad, the emphasis fell on the wrong word."
"Never mind, Archie, where the emphasis falls; but if you let Tell fall the emphasis will fall where you won't like it."
"All right, dad, I'll chance the emphasis. Hurrah!"
The Squire and Mr. Walton went off early next day to a distant town, and Branson had orders to bring Tell round to the hall door at nine sharp; which he did. The keeper was not groom, but he was the tallest man about, and Archie thought he would want a leg up.
Archie's mother was there, and Elsie, and Rupert, and did Kate, and little Peter, to say nothing of Bounder and Fuss, all to see "t' young Squire mount." But no one expected the sight they did see when Archie appeared; for the lad's sense of fun and the ridiculous was quite irrepressible. And the young rascal had dressed himself from top to toe in his father's hunting-rig—boots, cords, red coat, hat, and all complete. Well, as the boots were a mile and a half too big for him—more or less, and the breeches and coat would have held at least three Archie Broadbents, while the hat nearly buried his head, you may guess what sort of a guy he looked. Bounder drew back and barked at him. Old Kate turned her old eyes cloudwards, and held up her palms. Branson for politeness' sake tried not to laugh; but it was too much, he went off at last like a soda-water cork, and the merriment rippled round the ring like wild-fire. Even poor Rupert laughed till the tears came. Then back into the house ran Archie, and presently re-appeared dressed in his own velvet suit.
But Archie had not altogether cooled down yet. He had come to the conclusion that having an actual leg up, was not an impressive way of getting on to his hunter; so after kissing his mother, and asking Rupert to kiss Elsie for him, he bounded at one spring to Branson's shoulder, and from this elevation bowed and said "good morning," then let himself neatly down to the saddle.
"Tally ho! Yoi—cks!" he shouted. Then clattered down the avenue, cleared the low, white gate, and speedily disappeared across the fields.