The third time Malleville seemed to be endowed with some new and supernatural strength in her jumping: for she bounded so high that her feet rose almost to a level with the top of the seat, and then, as she came down gently upon the floor of the cart, Beechnut released his hold upon her, and she walked to her chair and sat down. Beechnut then mounted to his place by the side of Phonny, and the whole party rode away.
GOING OUT THE GATE.
After riding along for some distance, Phonny asked Beechnut if he really thought that he was childish.
“Why no,” said Beechnut, “not particularly. You are a little boyish sometimes, and I suppose that that is to be expected, since you are really a boy. But you are growing older every year, and I see some marks of manliness in you, now and then. How old are you now?”
“I am nine years and five months,” said Phonny. “That is, I am about half-past nine.”
“That is pretty old,” said Beechnut, “but then I suppose I must expect you to be a boy some time longer.”
“Beechnut,” said Phonny, “did you know that my cousin Wallace was coming here pretty soon?”
“Is he?” said Beechnut. “From college?”