"Uncle Charles, do take me for a slide, please," pleaded Fanny, again undeterred by timid Edith, pulling at her sleeve and begging her not to go.
"I would take you with the greatest pleasure in life, Fanny; but what is to become of my horse?"
"Cousin Julia will hold him. Won't you, cousin?" asked the child, flying to her side.
"I hold him?" exclaimed Julia. "No, thank you, Fanny, I value my life too well; besides, child, I should be frightened."
"Miss Neville will, then, she is so fond of horses," cried Fanny, darting off to where her governess stood.
"A fruitless errand," muttered Charles, turning on his heels, "she has not a grain of courage. I wish she had."
But as if to shame him for this assertion, or to gratify his wish, when he looked up, there stood the governess.
"I shall be happy to hold your horse for you, Mr. Linchmore," she said, while Fanny clapped her hands and capered about with delight.
"You, Miss Neville!" he repeated incredulously. "Impossible!"