The girl within continued to talk to the horse while she provided for his comfort, low words unintelligible to the silent watcher, till, as she finished her task, she suddenly threw her arms about the animal's neck and leaned her head against it.
"Oh, Rupert," she said, and there was a throb of passion in her words, "I wish--I wish you and I could go right away into the wilderness together and never--never come back!" Rupert turned his head and actually licked her hair.

He was a horse of understanding.
She uttered a little sobbing laugh and tenderly kissed his nose.

"You're a dear, sympathetic boy! Who taught you to be, I wonder?
Not your master, I'm sure! He's nothing but a steel machine all through!" And then she turned to leave the stable and came upon Fletcher Hill, mutely awaiting her..