‘We had to go through a small brook where the water was rather deep; the horse chose the safest road through the water, where the banks were the lowest; he took us over a rather dangerous ditch, where the boards that had served as a sort of bridge had been broken down in the winter, and were partly supported by some frozen earth and ice; and then, when we reached the firmer, better road, leading up the hill, my good horse trotted steadily till he brought us safe to my own house door.
‘You may easily think that I ordered my horse a good supper of oats.’
‘Oh, grandmamma, why did you not bring that nice horse here? We should have so liked to have him here.’
Grandmamma smiled and said, ‘Dear Alice, that is so long ago, he cannot be alive.’
‘Tea is ready, ma’am,’ said Mary, opening the door.
‘Tea!’ said Alice; ‘we have only just had dinner. How quickly the afternoon has gone! I do so like to listen to your stories, grandmamma; and look, I have finished hemming my tea-cloth. I thought before that it never would be done.’
CHAPTER XVI.
LENGTH OF DAY IN RUSSIA AND FINLAND.
