"Oh, Tom!" she said, reining in her horse. If he hadn't been the
possessor of a good disposition, he certainly would have bolted in his
disappointment at being pulled up so abruptly. "It's so cruel to kill
the poor fox in that way."
"Eh--what!" exclaimed Tom, not hearing the words, falling back to her
side, consternation all over his face. "Why, I never knew Meteor to
break in this way before."
"Oh, it isn't his fault," said Polly, hastily, and patting her horse's
neck. "I pulled him up. Oh, Tom, it's all so very cruel."
"Eh?" said Tom, in a puzzled way.
"To kill the fox in this way," said Polly, her heart sinking as she
thought how dreadful it was for her to object, when visiting, to
anything her host might plan. "O dear me!" and she looked so distressed
that Tom turned comforter at once.
"We all do it," he was saying, as Jasper rode up.
"Anything the matter?" he asked in great concern. "What's happened?"
"Nothing," said Tom, "only Polly doesn't like the fox-hunt."
"It's so cruel," cried Polly, turning to Jasper, with a little pink
spot coming in either cheek. "I ought to have thought of it before, but
I didn't; it only seemed so very splendid to be rushing along with the
horses and dogs. But to chase that poor fox to death--O dear me!"
"We'll go back," suggested Tom, in distress; "don't be afraid, Polly,
I'll make it all right with granddaddy.
Pages:
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317