"I can hold it!" cried the young girl, "easily!"
And to display her indifference, Fanny knelt on one knee to pick up her gloves.
The consequence of this movement was, that the heavy kite, struck, doubtless, at the moment by a gust of wind, jerked the lady with the Amazonian arm so violently, that, unable to retain her position, she fell upon her left hand, then upon her face, and was dragged a pace or two by the heavy weight.
"By Jove!" cried Ralph, running to her, "did anybody—"
"Oh, take care!" exclaimed Redbud, hastening to her friend's assistance.
"It is nothing!" Fanny said; "I can hold it."
And to prove this, she let go the string, which was cutting her hand in two.
The poor kite! loosed from the sustaining hand, from the earth, which, so to speak, held it up—it sees its hopes of elevation in the world all dashed with disappointment and obscured. It is doomed!
But no! A new friend comes to its rescue—deserted by the lords and ladies of creation, the lesser creature takes it under his protection.
Longears is the rescuer. Longears has watched the messenger we have mentioned with deep interest, as it lays upon the string and flutters; Longears imagines that it is a bee of the species called yellow-jacket challenging him to combat. Consequently, Longears no sooner sees the string dart from Fanny's hand, than believing the enemy about to escape him, he springs toward it and catches it in his mouth.