Page:Saxe Holm's Stories, Series Two.djvu/117

Rh me; and he knows just as quick in the morning if there 's a little difference in my tone of speaking to him; if I don't happen to feel quite first-rate myself, he 'll poke his nose into my hand, and whinny uneasily, till I speak in a chirker voice to him. I don't really need any reins to guide them. See here," and John suddenly said in a low tone—"Whoa, Tom! Whoa, Jerry!" The horses were trotting at a rapid rate down a little hill. So suddenly that they fell almost on their haunches, the beautifully trained animals came to a full stop, and stood still with their necks arched, their heads down, snorting a little in impatience. The sudden stop had given a severe jar to the wagon, and unfortunately had jolted Aunt Jane forward from her seat.

"There! I told you so, Maria! Let me get out! let me get out! We 'll have our necks broken. Young man, let me get out this minute; do you hear?" screamed the terrified old woman.

"Oh, Aunt Jane," cried Fanny, who could barely speak for laughing, "don't be absurd. There is nothing the matter. Mr. Bassett stopped the horses himself to show me how quick they would mind his voice. It 's all right."

"I did not realize that it would give the wagon quite such a jar, ma'am;" said John, gravely, though the corners of his mouth quivered. "I am very sorry it frightened you so."

Aunt Jane was not very easily appeased.