"I have neglected you purposely. And I did it
because I have lost confidence in you." She regarded
him a long moment coldly, then was forced
to smile. "I suppose I feel toward you much as
I used to feel toward a doll of mine that had fallen
and cracked its head. I want to shake you, yet
I can't help but feel sorry for you, too." And
again she was silent.

Pat shifted his feet uneasily. He did not quite
understand all this, though he knew, despite the
smile of his mistress, that it was serious. Still,
encouraged by the smile, he pressed close and asked
for sweets, nuzzling her coat-sweater persistently.
But she stepped away. Whereupon he reached
his neck after her, and became almost savage in
his coaxing. Finally he was relieved to see her
burst into a peal of laughter.

"Here!" she said, and held out both hands.
"I don't care if your head is broken!"

Glory be! Two red apples in one hand; a whole
handful of loaf sugar in the other! If ever a horse
smiled, he smiled then. Also, he promptly accepted
some of the sugar, and, enjoying every
delicious mouthful, reached for an apple. But
she drew back. Evidently she was not yet finished
with her reprimand.

"Blissfully unconscious of your behavior that
morning, aren't you?" she continued. "Not a
bit ashamed; not one speck regretful!"

Well -- he wasn't. He was not a bit ashamed,
not one speck regretful. Merely, he was sweet-hungry.
And now that the sugar was gone, he

[[86]]

p085 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p086w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p087

v?