“Oh, I do hope the weather will be good!” exclaimed Lulu, while she and Max exchanged glances of delight.
“I think there is every indication of pleasant weather for some days to come,” remarked Mr. Short.
“Is it far to the mine?” asked Lulu; “will we have to ride or drive?”
“No, Miss; I think even you could easily walk it,” replied Mr. Short. “The distance is not over a mile.”
“Then I can,” she said; “I’ve walked more than two miles many a time.”
“No doubt of it,” said her father; “but you must have a pony for longer excursions. Have you succeeded in securing a suitable one, Mr. Short? Horses for myself and son, also?”
Short replied to the effect that he had succeeded in procuring a steed for each of them, which, though probably by no means equal to those they were accustomed to at home, would, he hoped, answer their purpose quite well.
“Are you accustomed to riding horseback, Miss?” he asked.
“Oh, yes,” Lulu said. “Papa gave me a pony of my own more than a year ago, and before that I used to ride one belonging to somebody else.”
“Here come Mr. Austin and Albert up the hill,” said Max, and the next moment the English gentleman and his son had joined themselves to the little group.