“Habit?” Jane glanced swiftly from her host’s 79quizzical face to her father and Ernest. They were both smiling broadly.
“Oh, it has something to do with horses–but—”
She never finished the sentence for at that moment one of the Captain’s hands appeared leading two Indian ponies, one a red and white piebald with a red blanket and side saddle; the other a black, with a blue blanket and a Mexican cowboy’s equipment.
She stared at the horses and she stared at the Captain, not daring to even hope what had come into her mind. Captain Clarke took the bridle off the piebald and held down his hand for her foot.
“Up with you, I have persuaded your Father to share his children with me to the extent of letting me add something to your pleasure and that of your guests this summer. Ernest, however, has left me his debtor in advance, for he has not only finished breaking these in to the saddle but he has tamed the worst-tempered colt on the place as well.”
Chicken Little was surprised to see Ernest flush up and stammer.
“Why I–I don’t want any pay–I was glad to help out a neighbor.”
“That’s exactly what I am going to ask you to do, my boy, to help me out by letting me feel that I can still give somebody pleasure. The ponies are part of a large herd I bought in Texas and cost 80me very little. I have argued this all out with your Father and he understands my feeling. Won’t you be as generous?”
Before Ernest could answer, Chicken Little reached up both arms and gave the speaker a hug and a kiss that were warm enough to satisfy the loneliest heart. Before she had released him, Ernest had hold of his hand and was trying to make up by the vigor of his hand shake for the embarrassing dumbness which had seized him.
Dr. Morton relieved the situation by remarking mischievously: