How did you get out, Kittens?
What jolly good fun it must have been!"
"Is this so, Kate?" said Armyn, laying his hand on the bridle; and
his displeasure roused her spirit of self-defence, and likewise a
sense of ill-usage.
"To be sure it is," she said, raising her head indignantly. "I would
not be made to tell fashionable falsehoods; and so--and so I came
home, for Papa to protect me:" and if she had not had to take care to
steady herself on her saddle, she would have burst out sobbing with
vexation at Armyn's manner.
"And no one knew you were coming?" said he.
"No, of course not; I slipped out while they were all in
confabulation in Aunt Jane's room, and they were sure not to find me
gone till dinner time, and if they are very cross, not then."
"You go on, Charlie," said Armyn, restoring the bridle to his
brother; "I'll overtake you by the time you get home."
"What are you going to do?" cried boy and girl with one voice.
"Well, I suppose it is fair to tell you," said Armyn. "I must go and
telegraph what is become of you."
There was a howl and a shriek at this. They would come after her and
take her away, when she only wanted to be hid and kept safe; it was a
cruel shame, and Charles was ready to fly at his brother and pommel
him; indeed, Armyn had to hold him by one shoulder, and say in the
voice that meant that he would be minded, "Steady, boy I--I'm very
sorry, my little Katie; it's a melancholy matter, but you must have
left those poor old ladies in a dreadful state of alarm about you,
and they ought not to be kept in it!"
"Oh! but Armyn, Armyn, do only get home, and see what Papa says.
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