He was evidently suggesting something which pleased her, for she smiled and nodded her head several times. Phil said, "I'll bring them to you in a moment or two," and ran off.

"What have you asked Phil to do?" asked Rachel angrily. "He's not a strong boy--at least, not very strong, and he mustn't be sent racing about."

"Oh, then, if he's not strong he won't ever get Avonsyde," returned Clementina. "How disappointed his mother will be. I thought Phil was very strong."

"You know nothing about it," said Rachel, getting redder and more angry.

"You have no right to talk about our private affairs; they are nothing to you."

"I only know what my mamma tells me," said Clementina, "and I don't choose to be lectured by you, Miss Rachel."

Here Will and d.i.c.k came eagerly forward, squared their shoulders, and said:

"Go it, girls! Give it to her back, Rachel. She's never happy except when she's quarreling."

A torrent of angry words was bubbling up to Rachel's lips, but here Phil came panting up, holding a great spray of lovely scarlet berries in his hand.

"Here!" he said, presenting it to Clementina. "That is the very last, and I had to climb a good tall tree to get it. Let me twine it round your hat the way Gabrielle used to wear it. Here, just one twist--doesn't it look jolly?"

The effect on Clementina's dark brown beaver hat was magical, and the effect on her temper was even more soothing--she smiled and became good-tempered at once. Rachel's angry words were never spoken, and sunshine being restored the children began to discuss their plans for the day.

Miss Griselda had given a certain amount of freedom to all the young folk, and under supervision--that is, in the company of Robert, the groom--they might visit any part of the forest not too far away. When the eager question was asked now, "What shall we do with ourselves?" Phil replied instantly, "Let's go into the forest. Let's visit Rufus' Stone."

Rachel's eyes danced at this, and she looked eagerly and expectantly at her little cousin.

"You have none of you seen the Stone," proceeded Phil. "There are splendid trees for climbing round there, and on a fine day like this it will be jolly. We can take our lunch out, and I'll show you lots of nests, Will."

"I'll go on one condition," said Rachel--"that we ride. Let's have our ponies. It is too horrid to be cooped up in a wagonette."

"Oh, we'd all much rather ride!" exclaimed the Marmaduke children.

"Bob can drive the pony-cart to the Stone," proceeded Rachel, "and meet us there with our luncheon things. That will do quite well, for as there are such a lot of us we won't want a groom to ride as well. We know every inch of the road from here to the Stone--don't we, Phil?"

"Yes," answered Phil softly.

"Well, that's splendid," said Clementina, who felt that her berries were very becoming and who imagined that Rachel was looking at them enviously. "But have you got horses enough to mount us all?"

"We've got ponies," said Rachel. "Rough forest ponies; jolly creatures!

You shall have Brownie, as you're such a good rider; he's nice and spirited--isn't he, Phil?"

"Yes," replied Phil. "But I think Clementina would have a jollier time with Surefoot; he goes so easily. I think he's the dearest pony in the world."

"But he's your own pony, Phil. You surely are not going to give up your own pony?"

Phil laughed.

"I'm not going to give him up," he said; "only I think I'd like to ride Brownie this morning."

Rachel scarcely knew why she felt ashamed at these words; she certainly had no intention of offering her horse to Clementina.

"What queer ways Phil has," she thought to herself. And then she saw a softened look in Clementina's eyes and her heart gave a sharp little p.r.i.c.k.

Half an hour later the riding party set out, and for a time all went smoothly. Rachel was trying to curb her impatience; Clementina amused herself by being condescending to Philip; and d.i.c.k, Will, Kitty, and Abby rode amicably together. But the party was ill-a.s.sorted, and peace was not likely long to reign. Surefoot was an extremely nice pony, and Clementina rode well in front, and after a time began to give herself airs, and to arrange her fresh and very becoming habit, as if she were riding in the Row. Surefoot was gentle, but he was also fresh; and when Clementina touched him once or twice with her riding-whip, he shook himself indignantly and even broke into a canter against her will.

"You must not touch Surefoot with a whip," sang out Rachel. "He does not need it and it is an insult to him."

Clementina laughed scornfully.

"All horses need the whip now and then," she said; "it freshens them up and acts as a stimulant. You don't suppose, Rachel, that I don't know? I rather think there are very few girls who know more about riding than I do. Why, I have had lessons from Captain Delacourt since I can remember."

"Is Captain Delacourt your riding-master?" asked Rachel in an exasperating voice. "If so, he can't be at all a good one; for a really good riding-master would never counsel any girl to use the whip to a willing horse."

"Did your riding-master give you that piece of information?" inquired Clementina in a voice which she considered full of withering sarcasm. "I should like to know his name, in order that I might avoid him."

Rachel laughed.

"My riding-master was Robert," she said, "and as he is my aunt's servant, you cannot get lessons from him even if you wish to. You need not sneer at him, Clementina, for there never was a better rider than Robert, and he has taught me nearly everything he knows himself. There isn't any horse I couldn't sit, and it would take a very clever horse indeed to throw me."

Clementina smiled most provokingly, and raising her whip gave gentle little Surefoot a couple of sharp strokes. The little horse quivered indignantly, and Rachel glanced at Phil, who was riding behind on Brownie.

"Oh, Phil," she called out, "Clementina is so unkind to your horse. It is well for you, Clementina, that you are on Surefoot's back. He is so sweet-tempered he won't resent even cruelty very much; but if you dared to whip my horse, Ruby, you would have good reason to repent of your rashness."

Rachel was riding on a red-coated pony, a half-tamed creature with promises of great beauty and power by and by, but at present somewhat rough and with a wild, untamed gleam in his eyes. Clementina glanced all over Ruby, but did not deign another remark. She was forming a plan in her mind. By hook or by crook she would ride Ruby home and show to the astonished Rachel what Captain Delacourt's pupil was capable of.

The children presently reached their destination, where Bob and the light cart of refreshments awaited them. The day was very balmy and springlike, and the most fastidious could not but be pleased and the most ill-tempered could not fail for a time, at least, to show the sunny side of life. The children made merry. Rachel and Clementina forgot their disputes in the delights of preparing salads and cutting up pies; Phil, the Marmaduke boys, and Abby went off on a foraging expedition; and Kitty swung herself into the low-growing branch of a great oak tree, and lazily closing her eyes sang softly to herself.

The picnic dinner turned out a grand success; and then Clementina, who was fond of music and who had discovered that Kitty had a particularly sweet voice, called her to her and said that they might try and get up some glees, which would sound delightfully romantic in the middle of the forest. The children sat round in a circle, Clementina now quite in her element and feeling herself absolute mistress of the occasion.

Suddenly Phil got up and strolled away. No one noticed him but Rachel, who sat on thorns for a few minutes; then, when the singing was at its height, she slipped round the oak tree, flew down the glade, and reached the little boy as he was entering a thick wood which lay to the right.

"Phil! Phil! you are going to see her?"

"Oh, don't, Rachel--don't follow me now! If we are both missed they will come to look for us, and then the lady's house will be discovered and she will have to go away. She said if her house was discovered she would have to go away, and oh, Rachel, if you love her--and you say you love her--that would be treating her cruelly!"

"The children won't miss us," said Rachel, whose breath came fast and whose cheeks were brightly colored. "The children are all singing as loudly as they can and they are perfectly happy, and Robert is eating his dinner. I won't go in, Phil; no, of course I won't go in, for I promised, and I would not break my word, to her of all people. But if I might stay at a little distance, and if I might just peep round a tree and see her, for she may come to talk to you, Phil. Oh, Phil, don't prevent me! I will not show myself, but I might see without being seen."

Rachel was trembling, and yet there was a bold, almost defiant look on her face; she looked so like Rupert that Phil's whole heart was drawn to her.

"You must do what you wish, of course," he said. "Do you see that giant oak tree at the top of the glade? You can stand there and you can peep your head well round. See, let's come to it. See, Rachel, you have a splendid view of the cottage from here. Now I will go and try if I can get any tidings of Gabrielle's tankard. Good-by, Rachel. Remember your promise not to come any nearer."

Phil ran lightly away, and Rachel saw him go into the little rose-covered porch of the cottage.

He raised the tiny knocker, and in a moment or two Nancy White answered his summons.

"Is the lady--the lady of the forest in, Nancy?" asked the little boy.

"The lady! Bless my heart, if this ain't Master Phil Lovel! Well, my dear little gentleman, and what may you want?"

"I want the lady. Can I see her? Perhaps she would come out to walk with me for a little, for I want to talk to her on a most important thing."