“It’s Ranald Bannerman,” said Turkey quietly. “I’m his horse. I’m taking him home from the school. This is the first time he’s been there since he was ill.”
Hearing this, she relaxed her labour, and the hooks which had been revolving so fast that they were invisible in a mist of motion, began to dawn into form, until at length they revealed their shape, and at last stood quite still. She rose, and said:
“Come, Master Ranald, and sit down. You’ll be tired of riding such a rough horse as that.”
“No, indeed,” I said; “Turkey is not a rough horse; he’s the best horse in the world.”
“He always calls me Turkey, mother, because of my nose,” said Turkey, laughing.
“And what brings you here?” asked his mother. “This is not on the road to the manse.”
“I wanted to see if you were better, mother.”
“Oh! they’re all safe enough. They know I’m here.”
“Well, sit down and rest you both,” she said, resuming her own place at the wheel. “I’m glad to see you, Johnnie, so be your work is not neglected. I must go on with mine.”
Thereupon Turkey, who had stood waiting his mother’s will, deposited me upon her bed, and sat down beside me.
“And how’s your papa, the good man?” she said to me.
“All the better that you’re restored from the grave, I don’t doubt,” she said.
I had never known before that I had been in any danger.
“It’s been a sore time for him and you too,” she added. “You must be a good son to him, Ranald, for he was in a great way about you, they tell me.”
Turkey said nothing, and I was too much surprised to know what to say; for as often as my father had come into my room, he had always looked cheerful, and I had had no idea that he was uneasy about me.
After a little more talk, Turkey rose, and said we must be going.
“Well, Ranald,” said his mother, “you must come and see me any time when you’re tired at the school, and you can lie down and rest yourself a bit. Be a good lad, Johnnie, and mind your work.”
“Yes, mother, I’ll try,” answered Turkey cheerfully, as he hoisted me once more upon his back. “Good day, mother,” he added, and left the room.
I mention this little incident because it led to other things afterwards. I rode home upon Turkey’s back; and with my father’s leave, instead of returning to school that day, spent the afternoon in the fields with Turkey.