"No, father dear; of course not."
"You're a plucky young 'un," said her father admiringly. Boris and Kitty came close; the grooms and the horse-dealer also approached. There was a sort of ring round Nell and the colts.
"Please, father, may I give Robin his apple?" she asked. "He has earned it. May he have it?"
The Squire nodded.
"Of course he may," he said; then he turned to the horse dealer.
"My little girl is fond of these creatures," he said. "I hope you will have patience for a moment or two."
The man touched his hat respectfully.
"Certainly, sir," he answered, "as long as the young lady likes; there's no manner of hurry, and perhaps little miss would like to have another canter. I never see'd no one sit so bird-like on a horse—never, in the whole of my born days."
"Do you hear that, Nell?" said her father. "Would you like another canter? I didn't know you could ride bare-backed."
She smiled up at him, a perfectly brave smile; there were no tears in her eyes, although there were black shadows under them, and her face was as white as a little snowflake.