“Well,” said the Gray Pony, “that changes things. That alters the case. I’m sorry I abused them. But that boy there hasn’t been very good to me. I’ve seen no boy like Little Crotchet. I saw them riding the black stallion yesterday. How was that?”
“Haven’t I told you, Gristle? They have been touched. They have the sign.”
“I see,” responded the Gray Pony. “That changes things. That alters the case. But what do they want with me?”
“They can answer for themselves, Gristle. They are here.”
“Why, we wanted you to tell us about the time when my Uncle Crotchet asked grandfather to buy Uncle Aaron.”
The Pony drew away from the bucket of wet bran and looked at the children. Then he looked at Aaron. “Well!” he snorted, “how did they know?”
Aaron laughed and pointed toward the big house. “They heard it there, from the White-haired Master. They are our friends, Gristle. They know the sign.”
“That alters the case,” said the Gray Pony for the third time, “but the story is a long one. To-day is the day when you get in the carriage and go where the talking-man lives. I used to carry the Little Master there, one day in every week, from the time he could ride.”
“He means to preaching,” explained Aaron, and the explanation made the children laugh.