Page:Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag, Volume 2.djvu/160

142 Providence and the other man,' and we shall come out right, I assure you," replied the energetic Amanda, who had conferred with a spectral being in the darkness, and blindly put her faith in him.

Away lumbered one diligence after the other, the first drawn by seven horses, the second by five, while the carrier's little cart with one brought up the rear. But still three muffled ladies sat upon a cool stone in the dark square, waiting for the spectre to keep his promise.

He did like a man; for suddenly the doors of an old stable flew open, and out rattled a comfortable carriage with a pair of stout little horses jingling their bells, and a brisk driver, whose voice was pleasant, as he touched his hat and invited the ladies to enter, assuring them that they would soon overtake and pass the heavy diligences before them.

"Never again will I doubt you, my Amanda," cried the Raven, packing herself into the dowager's corner with a grateful heart.

"I hope the top of this carriage opens for I must see every thing," cried Matilda, prancing about on the front seat in a chaos of wraps, books, bottles, and lunch-baskets.