Mr. Bankes laughed. There was such a sullen meaning in the boy's slow utterance.
"Oh! won't you? What'll you do?"
In an instant Bertie had risen from his seat, and if Mr. Bankes had not been very quick in putting his arm about him he would have sprung out upon the road. As it was, Mr. Bankes, taken by surprise, gave an unintentional tug at the left rein, and had he not corrected his error with wonderful dexterity Mary Anne would have landed the trap and its occupants in a convenient ditch.
"Don't you try that on again," said Mr. Bankes, retaining his hold on the lad.
"Don't you say you'll drive me back again."
"Here's a fighting cock. There have been lunatics in the family--I know there have. Don't be a little idiot. Sit still."
"Promise you won't drive me back."
"And supposing I won't promise you, what then?"
Bertie's only answer was to give a sudden twist, and before Mr. Bankes had realized what he intended he had slipped out of his grasp, and was sprawling on the road. Fortunately the trap had been brought to a standstill, for had Bertie carried out his original design of springing out with Mary Anne going at full speed, the probabilities are that he would have brought his adventures to a final termination on the spot. Mr. Bankes stared for a moment, and then laughed.
"Well, of all the young ones ever I heard tell of!"