"Nor do I," said Mrs. Leland; "and this being so extra an occasion they will doubtless do their best."
"I think they will, and I hope no invited guest will stay away or be disappointed," said Grace, with a merry look and smile.
"No danger of either calamity, Gracie," said Mrs. Dinsmore. "Ah, there's our carriage at the door," and with a hasty good-bye and a cordial invitation to all present to make frequent visits at the Oaks, she and her husband and daughter departed.
The Beechwood friends lingered a little longer, as did those from Fairview and Woodburn. But at length Grace said she thought it time to go home for, of course, there were some matters she ought to attend to in preparation for the evening.
"Shall I send you in the carriage?" asked Lucilla.
"Oh, no, thank you, sister dear; the short walk will be good for me," returned Grace gaily, "for Elsie, too, I think, and for Ned; though he, I suppose, will prefer to ride his pony."
"Yes, of course I will," said Ned. "He needs to be taken home, anyway."
They made their adieus and passed out on the veranda.
A servant brought the pony up, and Ned was about to mount when the little steed remarked, "I think a young gentleman might feel ashamed to ride while his lady sisters must go afoot."
"You do!" exclaimed Ned, drawing back with a look of mingled surprise and chagrin. "Well, they said they wanted to walk--preferred it to riding; and--and besides they couldn't both ride on your back at once."
"Two do ride the same horse at once sometimes," seemed to come very distinctly from the pony's lips.
"Who is making you talk, I wonder?" cried Ned, turning to look about him. "Oh, Brother Max, it was you, wasn't it?" as he caught sight of his brother and sisters standing near.
"The person making the pony talk. I almost thought for a minute it really was the pony; though, of course, ponies can't talk. And I didn't mean to be selfish. Gracie won't you ride him home? Elsie and I can walk just as well as not."
"Yes, of course we can; it's a very short and very pleasant walk," returned Elsie, with prompt cheerfulness. "So Gracie dear, you ride the pony."
"Thank you both," said Grace, "but I really prefer to walk, as I have had very little exercise to-day."