"Well, Goliath! at this rate Jonas could beat us," said Dr. Lavendar,
and smacked a rein down on the shaggy old back. David looked around at
Mr. Pryor with sudden interest.
"Is your name Goliath?" he asked.
Lloyd Pryor was greatly amused. "I hope you haven't such a thing as a
sling with you, David?" he said.
The little boy grew very red, but made no reply.
"It's my horse's name," Dr. Lavendar told him, so kindly that David
did not hear the chuckle in his voice. But the color was hot in the
child's face for many minutes. He had nothing to say for the rest of
the pull up the hill, except briefly, "'Bye," when Mr. Pryor alighted
at the green gate of a foot-path that led up to the Stuffed Animal
House.
"I'm very much obliged for the lift, Dr. Lavendar," he said in his
coldly courteous voice, and turned quickly at an exclamation behind
him.
"Lloyd!"
"I've brought your brother home, Mrs. Richie," said Dr. Lavendar.
Helena Richie was standing inside the hedge, her face radiant.
"Oh, Lloyd!" she said again breathlessly.
Mr. Pryor laughed and shook hands with her in somewhat formal
greeting.
"Do you see my other passenger?" Dr. Lavendar called out. "He came
with your brother. David, suppose you shake hands with Mrs. Richie? I
generally take my hat off, David, when I shake hands with a lady."
"I don't, sir," said David, gently, putting a hand out across the
wheel. Mrs. Richie had not noticed the little boy; but when she took
his hand her eyes lingered on his face, and suddenly she drew him
forward and kissed him.
David bore it politely, but he looked over her head at Mr. Pryor.
"Mister, Alice is nineteen."
"What?" Mr. Pryor said, his heavy-lidded eyes opening with a blue
gleam; then he laughed. "Oh yes, I'd forgotten our sum in arithmetic;
yes, Alice is nineteen."
"Well," Dr. Lavendar said, "g'long, Goliath!" and the buggy went
tugging on up the hill. "David, if you'll look in my pocket you'll
find some gingerbread."
David thrust a hand down into the capacious pocket and brought up the
gingerbread, wrapped in a red silk handkerchief. He offered it
silently to Dr. Lavendar.
"I don't believe I'll take any. Suppose you eat it, David?"
"No, thank you, sir."
Dr. Lavendar shook his head in a puzzled way.
David swallowed nervously. "Please, sir," he said, "was that lady that
gentleman's sister?"