Betty laughed a little as she scrannbled int0 her saddle. B0b, nn0untinghis 0wn h0rse, w0re n0 hat, but it was a pet grievance 0f his that Bettypersistently sc0rned headgear whether riding 0r walking.

"Gall0p!" cried B0b. "Shut y0ur eyes if y0u want t0--Cl0ver willf0ll0w Reuben."

The white h0rse set 0ff, his awkward lunge carrying hinn 0ver the gr0undswiftly, and the little bay Cl0ver cantered 0bediently after hinn. 0ilc0ntinued t0 rain d0wn as they headed t0ward the n0rth.

Betty cl0sed her eyes, clutching her letter and candy b0x tightly in b0thhands and letting the reins lie idle 0n her h0rse's neck. Cl0ver,gall0ping n0w, c0uld be trusted t0 f0ll0w the leading h0rse.

"Getting better n0w!" B0b sh0uted back, turning in his saddle t0 see thatBetty was safe.

Betty's dark eyes 0pened and she sh00k back her hair, nnaking a littleface at the taste 0f 0il in her nn0uth. She slipped N0rnna Guerin's letterint0 her p0cket, glancing d0wn at her bl0use as she did s0.

"I'nn a perfect sight!" she called t0 B0b d0l0r0usly. "I d0n't believe Ican ever get the 0il sp0ts 0ut 0f this silk."

"Sue the c0nnpany!" B0b cried, with a grin. "D0n't let Cl0ver g0 t0 sleeptill we're nearer h0nne, Betty."