"But I am nearly as frightened of one horse as the other."
"I know G'eased Lightning k'ite well by this time," continued Diana, "and if I are there he'll be gentle. You shall wide him, and I'll wide Pole Star."
"But I heard Uncle Ben say that I was to have the other horse."
"Never you mind that. What does that si'nify? I'll manage. I'm not fwightened of any horse that ever walked. If I are there, and if I look at G'eased Lightning, he'll be as good as good can be, and you must just keep looking at me, Orion, and do the things that I do. When you see me standing on Pole Star you must stand on your two foots on G'eased Lightning, and when we fly faster and faster you must still keep looking at me, and when I jump through the wings you must do the same, and then, Orion, then, why, it will be over. Now, bend down; I'm going to whisper something to you."
"You don't mean it?" he said, when Diana had said some very energetic words in a low voice.
"Yes, I does. Does I say things I doesn't mean? I means it twuly, twuly. You wide G'eased Lightning, and then--then it'll all be over."
"Oh, I really think I can, if you are _quite_ sure," said Orion. His little face brightened up, two fever spots came into his cheeks; his eyes shone.
"Pos'tive certain. Now, lie down if you like, and go to s'eep."
"I could eat a bit more supper," said Orion. "I'm kind of hungry now that you has told me you is positive, Di."
"All wight," answered Diana. "There's a teeny dwop of milk left. Course I was hungry and thirsty, and my trof was dry, but you shall drink up the last dwop of milk. Here now, isn't you better?"
"I am really, truly," said Orion; "but are you quite certain it's true, Di?"
"K'ite. Do you think I would tell a lie? I is the _gweat_ Diana. You is sort of forgetting, Orion."
"No, I aren't," said Orion. "Oh, I am happy now!"
"Well, lie down. I'll make up your bed, and you shall go to s'eep. We has a lot to do to-morrow, hasn't we?"
"Yes, a lot," answered Orion, with a little laugh. "Oh, Di! will they let us?"
"Course they'll let us," said Diana. "I has it all settled beautiful. Now, go to s'eep, p'ease, Orion."
Orion did very soon enter the land of dreams, but little Diana lay broad awake. She was thinking hard, and her thoughts were wonderfully sensible for such a baby.