It was when he had seen the Prince of Wales going to the
Cathedral on Christmas Day, in the midst of all his plumed generals,
with their gay scarfs, and rich lace collars.
He had put little Ben on horseback, and turned away into the long,
dirty lane, or rather ditch, that led homeward, before, through his
consternation, there dawned on him what to do. A gap in the hedge
lay near, through which he dragged the horse into a pasture field, to
the great amazement of Ben, saying "See here, Ben, those folk want to
take yonder groom in grey. We will go and warn them."
Ben heartily assented.
"I like the groom," he said. "He jumped me five times off the
horseblock, and he patted Growler and called him a fine fellow, who
didn't deserve his name--worth his salt he was sure. We won't give
Growler salt, Stead, but don't let that ugly preaching man get the
good groom!"
Steadfast was by this time on the horse behind his little brother,
pressing through the fields, which by ancient custom were all thrown
open from harvest time till Christmas; and coming out into the open
bit of common that the travellers had to pass before arriving at
Breakneck Hill, he was just in time to meet them as they trotted on.
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