“You have none of you seen the Stone,” proceeded Phil. “There are splendid trees for climbing round there, and on a fine day like this it will be jolly. We can take our lunch out, and I’ll show you lots of nests, Will.”
“I’ll go on one condition,” said Rachel—“that we ride. Let’s have our ponies. It is too horrid to be cooped up in a wagonette.”
“Oh, we’d all much rather ride!” exclaimed the Marmaduke children.
“Bob can drive the pony-cart to the Stone,” proceeded Rachel, “and meet us there with our luncheon things. That will do quite well, for as there are such a lot of us we won’t want a groom to ride as well. We know every inch of the road from here to the Stone—don’t we, Phil?”
“Yes,” answered Phil softly.
“Well, that’s splendid,” said Clementina, who felt that her berries were very becoming and who imagined that Rachel was looking at them enviously. “But have you got horses enough to mount us all?”
“We’ve got ponies,” said Rachel. “Rough forest ponies; jolly creatures! You shall have Brownie, as you’re such a good rider; he’s nice and spirited—isn’t he, Phil?”
“Yes,” replied Phil. “But I think Clementina would have a jollier time with Surefoot; he goes so easily. I think he’s the dearest pony in the world.”
“But he’s your own pony, Phil. You surely are not going to give up your own pony?”
Phil laughed.