"That is too long to wait, and a good horse will carry me as soon or sooner than I could go the other way."
"You must not go alone," he replied. "I would be glad to go if I could get away, but as I can't, how would Fox do?"
"We had thought of him," Constance spoke up.
"Then you have talked it over?" Uncle Job asked.
"Yes; it is not safe for him to go alone, and that is the way we happened to speak of it."
"Fox will be a good companion, and more agreeable than I," Uncle Job answered, pleasantly.
"You know that is not so, uncle," I answered, "for I should like no one so well as you."
"Well, it is nice of you to say so, anyway; but if you are to start to-day you must be off, and while you are looking up Fox I will get the dapple-gray mare in shape for you."
"The mare!" I answered, surprised at the reference. "Will you let me take her?"
"Yes; and if you will accept the gift, I shall be glad to give her to you. I have been intending to do it for a long time," he answered, smiling.