Try, if I ain't," and Ben squared off in such scientific style that Joslyn responded with sudden amiability,-- "All right, let's see you do it." Bab huddled into her new equipage without the least fear, and Ben trundled her off at a good pace, while the boy retired to the shelter of a barn to watch their progress, glad to be rid of an irksome errand.
At first, all went well, for the way was down hill, and the wheel squeaked briskly round and round; Bab smiled gratefully upon her bearer, and Ben "went in on his muscle with a will," as he expressed it.

But presently the road grew sandy, began to ascend, and the load seemed to grow heavier with every step.
"I'll get out now.

It's real nice, but I guess I am too heavy," said Bab, as the face before her got redder and redder, and the breath began to come in puffs.
"Sit still.

He said I couldn't.

I'm not going to give in with him looking on," panted Ben, and he pushed gallantly up the rise, over the grassy lawn to the side gate of the Batchelors' door-yard, with his head down, teeth set, and every muscle of his slender body braced to the task.
"Did ever ye see the like of that now?
Ah, ha! "The streets were so wide, and the lanes were so narry, He brought his wife home on a little wheelbarry," sung a voice with an accent which made Ben drop his load and push back his hat, to see Pat's red head looking over the fence.
To have his enemy behold him then and there was the last bitter drop in poor Ben's cup of humiliation.