This proceeding rather startled Rose, for the other lads looked and laughed, and in her confusion she said hastily to the young usurper,—
"Did you see the circus go by?"
"When? Where?" cried all the boys in great excitement at once.
"Just before you came. At least I thought it was a circus, for I saw a red and black sort of cart and ever so many little ponies, and—"
She got no farther, for a general shout made her pause suddenly, as Archie explained the joke by saying in the middle of his laugh,—
"It was our new dog-cart and the Shetland ponies. You'll never hear the last of your circus, cousin."
"But there were so many, and they went so fast, and the cart was so very red," began Rose, trying to explain her mistake.
"Come and see them all!" cried the Prince. And before she knew what was happening she was borne away to the barn and tumultuously introduced to three shaggy ponies and the gay new dog-cart.
She had never visited these regions before, and had her doubts as to the propriety of her being there now, but when she suggested that "Auntie might not like it," there was a general cry of,—
"She told us to amuse you, and we can do it ever so much better out here than poking round in the house."