Mary stiffened herself for a refusal. Then he added plaintively: "After all, it's my knife, and you're breaking the only whole blade."
It was a young voice, certainly cultured, and possibly might have been attractive, had its owner not been suffering from an obvious cold.
"All right." Her assent was ungracious. "You can come if you like."
She rose stiffly to her feet and took the lantern. The stranger knelt in her place. She could see slim shoulders below a mackintosh and the back of a bent head covered with red hair.
The shoulders worked for a moment. Then a triumphant "Got it!" announced the success of masculine superiority. Unfortunately at that moment Starlight also "Got it." His foot being at last released he sprang forward, ungratefully knocking his benefactor to the ground.
Mary seized the pony's head. The stranger rolled adroitly towards the middle of the road and there was a small confusion.
Mary cried, "Are you hurt?"
The stranger said "Damn!" calmly and without prejudice.
Starlight backed slowly towards the hedge.
Then things became more peaceable.