At that a gale of laughter and applause broke out, and Tony, much gratified, resumed his seat and urged his astonished pony, who had slowed to a trot, into a canter again.
That of course settled the matter very nicely for the judges, and Tony had the mortification of seeing the three rosettes handed to his rivals. But his mortification was nothing to the mortification he had already inflicted on his preceptress.
"I hope I don't see that child until I cool off," she said, "or I am liable to take an axe to him."
But Tony, having handed his pony over to Arthur, came blithely to the stands to find her.
"Tony, you little idiot," she said, "what made you do a thing like that?"
"I wanted to show how I could ride, Eleanor."
"And where did you learn to do those circus tricks?"
"I practised on the pony that mows the lawn. At school, you know. He has a much broader back than Muffet, and that's why I wasn't so steady to-day. I don't think these people appreciate good riding," he added, nodding his head at the offending judges.
Eleanor was speechless.
Brat presented him with a coin and told him to go and buy himself an ice.