| 144 | 145 | 146 | 147 | 148 |
| 1 | 133 | 265 | 398 | 530 |
|
'Oh dear, such a naughty Whisker’ cried the old lady. 'After being so
good too, and coming along so well! I am quite ashamed of him. I don't
know what we are to do with him, I really don't.'
The pony having thoroughly satisfied himself as to the nature and
properties of the fire-plug, looked into the air after his old enemies the
flies, and as there happened to be one of them tickling his ear at that
moment he shook his head and whisked his tail, after which he
appeared full of thought but quite comfortable and collected. The old
gentleman having exhausted his powers of persuasion, alighted to
lead him; whereupon the pony, perhaps because he held this to be a
sufficient concession, perhaps because he happened to catch sight of
the other brass-plate, or perhaps because he was in a spiteful
humour, darted off with the old lady and stopped at the right house,
leaving the old gentleman to come panting on behind.
It was then that Kit presented himself at the pony's head, and touched
his hat with a smile.
'Why, bless me,' cried the old gentleman, 'the lad is here! My dear, do
you see?'
'
I said I'd be here, Sir,' said Kit, patting Whisker's neck. 'I hope you've
had a pleasant ride, sir. He's a very nice little pony.'
'My dear,' said the old gentleman. 'This is an uncommon lad; a good
lad, I'm sure.'
'I'm sure he is,' rejoined the old lady. 'A very good lad, and I am sure
he is a good son.'
Kit acknowledged these expressions of confidence by touching his hat
again and blushing very much. The old gentleman then handed the
old lady out, and after looking at him with an approving smile, they
went into the house - talking about him as they went, Kit could not
help feeling. Presently Mr Witherden, smelling very hard at the
nosegay, came to the window and looked at him, and after that Mr
Abel came and looked at him, and after that the old gentleman and
lady came and looked at him again, and after that they all came and
looked at him together, which Kit, feeling very much embarrassed by,
made a pretence of not observing. Therefore he patted the pony more
and more; and this liberty the pony most handsomely permitted.
The faces had not disappeared from the window many moments, when
Mr Chuckster in his official coat, and with his hat hanging on his
head just as it happened to fall from its peg, appeared upon the
pavement, and telling him he was wanted inside, bade him go in and
he would mind the chaise the while. In giving him this direction Mr
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