But Bantam was the great object of
interest; all wanted to mount at once, and it was with some difficulty
that John arranged that they should ride by turns, and the eldest
should ride first.
Off they set at last; one on the pony, with the dog bounding and
barking before him, and the others holding John's hands; both
talking at once, and overpowering him with questions about home, and
with school anecdotes. I looked after them with a feeling in which I
do not know whether pleasure or melancholy predominated; for I was
reminded of those days when, like them, I had neither known care nor
sorrow, and a holiday was the summit of earthly felicity. We stopped a
few moments afterwards to water the horses, and on resuming our route,
a turn of the road brought us in sight of a neat country seat. I could
just distinguish the forms of a lady and two young girls in the
portico, and I saw my little comrades, with Bantam, Carlo, and old
John, trooping along the carriage road. I leaned out of the coach
window, in hopes of witnessing the happy meeting, but a grove of trees
shut it from my sight.
In the evening we reached a village where I had determined to pass
the night. As we drove into the great gateway of the inn, I saw on one
side the light of a rousing kitchen fire beaming through a window.
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