“Ah!” Mr. Fielding looked round, and his face lightened. “You have met--talked to Kitty.”
“Yes, sir; she is full of eagerness.”
“Oh that we had many other minds as active! Alas! alas! I fear in that she is, as they call her, Kitty Alone.”
CHAPTER XIV
TO THE FAIR
“Heigh! schoolmaister!” Pasco Pepperill shouted from his tax-cart to Walter Bramber, who was walking along the road collecting wild-flowers--the earliest of the year--that showed in a sheltered hedge.
In the trap with Pasco was Kate.
“I say, schoolmaister,” said Pepperill, reining in his grey cob, “be you inclined for a drive? I’m off to Ashburton Fair, where I may have business. You have not yet seen much of our country. Jump up! She”--he indicated Kate with a jerk of his chin--“she can squat behind.”
The day was lovely, the prospect of a drive engaging; but Bramber hesitated about dislodging Kate, who had, however, immediately begun to transfer herself from the seat beside her uncle to the place behind.
“That is not fair nor right,” said the young man. “Let her keep her place, and let me accommodate myself in the rear.”
“Not a bit! not a bit!” exclaimed Pepperill. “I’ve[I’ve] asked you for company’s sake.”