A SHA BB Y TRICK. III

 continued Mrs. Leslie. "I went to them to-day, and
 found that a young friend of theirs, a boy about
 your own age, Dick, had come on a visit to them.
 His name is Roger Gordon, and he has brought a
 pony with him, so he can ride after the vehicles."
 "0 mother! how I should like to ride, too,"
sighed Dick.
 Mrs. Leslie looked at her boy fondly, and answered
with a smile, laying her hand on his shoulder-
 "I knew you would, Dick, so I have bespoken the
use of Bailey's quiet Shetland pony for the day-the
one I hired for you last summer, my boy."
 Oh, thank you so much, mother," said Dick, beam-
ing with joy; "but how is Jack to go ? "
 "Jack is also to ride," said Mrs. Leslie, "and you
two boys are to go down to the village to-night to
hire Baffle, the cream-coloured pony, from the hotel.
You are not afraid to manage him, are you, Jack ?"
 Not I, aunty, I've often ridden him-why, he only
kicks-that's just fun-Iunderstand Baffle-I'd rather
have a ride than anything."
 "Then, that is settled. You three boys are to ride.
Your father and I are going in the phaeton. Florinda
and Polly will sit together on the little front seat,
Adolphus in the back seat, and Dr. and Mrs. Brown
will drive in their gig."
 "Oh, how delicious !"