Page:Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag, Volume 2.djvu/169

Rh see the lovely views and the moonlight," said Amanda, and up she went.

"To sit aloft with a brigandish driver dressed in a scarlet and black uniform, with a curly horn slung over his shoulder, and to go tearing up hill and down with four frisky horses is irresistible," and up skipped Matilda.

"You will both catch your death of cold, if you don't break your necks, so it will be well to have some one to nurse or bury you," and Lavinia, finding commands and entreaties vain, entered the coupé with mournful dignity.

With a toot of the horn, and cheers from the crowd, which the girls gracefully acknowledged, away rumbled the diligence, with at least two very happy occupants. How lovely it was! First, the soft twilight wrapping every thing in mysterious shadow, and then the slow uprising of a glorious full moon, touching the commonest object with its magical light. Cries of rapture from the girls atop were answered by exclamations from Livy, hanging half out of the coupé regardless of night air, or raps on the head from overhanging boughs, as they went climbing up woody hills, or dashing down steep