“Nothingabout`clods，andclowns，andgrossness！’EveryotherwordhespokewaswhenIsaid，`Thankyou，andgoodmorning，’andwasturningaway。Heasked：`DidMissPryorsaywhethershepreferredtoridehome，orshallIescortherinthecarriage？’“
“`Shedidnot，’Ianswered。`Theplanwassosuddenshehadnotimetothinkthatfar。Butsinceshewillhaveherhorseandhabit，whynotallowmyfathertoescorther？’Soyousee，I’mgoingtotakeyouhome，“exultedLaddie。
“ButyoutoldhimyourFATHER，“saidthePrincess。
“Andtherebycreatedtheurgentnecessity，“saidLaddiewithaflourish，“forspeakingtohimagain，andtellinghimthatmyfatherhadvisitorsfromOhio，andcouldn’tleavethem。Wewillgetallthefunfromthedaythatwecan；butbeforedusk，tooearlyforthemtohaveanycauseforcavil，`thegrosscountryclod’isgoingtotakeyouhome！“
Oneatatime，Laddiepoundedthoselastwordsintothehitchingpost，withhisdoubledfist。