Mr. Devering looked at him anxiously, then he said, "To come back to the pony—he is not for one of my boys, he is for a guest."
"Oh, indeed," said Dallas absently. "So you expect another boy."
"Not this summer—the pony is for your use."
"For me!" he exclaimed. "Is this a joke?"
"Decidedly not. My children all have ponies. I wished you to have one."
"For my very own," he gasped, "this wonderful creature," and he suddenly threw his arm over my back as I pulled up closer to him, feeling oh! so glad that this gentle lad was to be my master.
"For your own if you treat him properly. I never give an animal outright till I see how it is used. If you neglect Pony, I shall take him back. If you are good to him, he belongs to you."
The boy was so excited that he could scarcely breathe. One trembling hand remained on my back, the other clutched his crumpled shirt front. "You are a prince among men," he said at last in a choked voice.
"I wish I were," said Mr. Devering humbly. "I am only a commoner."
The boy flung up his handsome head and looked at the blue sky. "Margie is most religious. She said Providence was guiding my steps here."