“Oh, yes,” consented grandfather good-naturedly, “if you promise to sit still and not ask to drive.”
Christopher avoided Jane’s reproachful look and capered off joyfully. Jane felt hurt at being deserted by her twin so soon, but she knew that Christopher was anxious to make Perk’s acquaintance.
“I s’pose boys can’t help likin’ other boys a little,” she reflected philosophically, and hugged her doll comfortably.
In spite of her nine years and her brother’s teasing, Jane persisted in playing with dolls and had a large, well-beloved family.
“Say, I’m going to ride home with you,” announced Christopher, climbing up on the high wagon seat. “Shall I hold the horse for you while you strap on the trunks?”
“He’s hitched,” drawled Perk with a twinkle in his eye. “But I guess ’twon’t hurt if you want to hold the lines.”
“Oh, I didn’t notice that he was tied,” said Christopher, a bit crestfallen, and feeling his youth. “I’d like to drive,” he added with reviving spirit as Perk strapped on the last trunk and mounted to his seat (swinging up over the wheel after the horse had started, to Christopher’s keen envy), “but grandfather said I mustn’t ask. But I could. A friend of my father’s has an automobile and he let me steer it one day, oh, a long way.”
Perk was distinctly impressed by this statement and dropped some of the patronage from his manner. Perk had never even seen an automobile.
As they drove down the length of the village street, Christopher was on the lookout for changes. It was two years since he had visited in Hammersmith, which left plenty of time for improvements. Each new building or alteration had to be remarked upon to Perk, for Christopher’s tongue would never stay quiet. Jane declared once that it wagged in his sleep.
“I see somebody else has got the blacksmith’s forge. Mr. Parsons used to run it.”