"O, shall he!" said she, the round eyes
swimming in pleasure. "How I shall enjoy it. We
must go. O, Pauline! we must see. Surely
mamma would not mind just for once."

Thus was Captain Fermor and the analysis of
his mind left leagues behind. He had misgivings
that, after all, these might prove "low" people
too. But the true source was the incurable lowness
of "that boor," which was breaking out in this
lawless way. He thought how he must make
an example of him; how with such there was
no keeping terms. But the horse, now
introduced, was hard to struggle against. Even
the soft, the round-eyed devotee was drawn
away. He said to her, in a low confidential
voice, "You. have been in Town, I am sure you
have—"

But with an absent smile she answered him,
"O yes!— that is, not for ages." Then to
Hanbury: "And when will he arrive, the Darling?
I am longing to see him again."

"On Monday," said Hanbury, with the same
eagerness. "I saw him yesterday, his coat
shining like a looking-glass—such a stride; and
when I took him over a stiff fence, he cleared it
like a furrow. O, he will do," said John
Hanbury, rubbing his hands with delight.

The two girls' faces were turned to him with
wonderful interest, that of the elder girl with a
sort of pride in Hanbury himself, the younger
with an interest that seemed to travel away to
where the noble brute was in his paddock. For
the moment no one was taking thought of the
refined Fermor. He smarted under it.

"This horse," he said to Hanbury, with bitterness,
"seems to be about the most distinguished
person of his time. You all appear to be absorbed,
to live, move, and have your being in him."
And he gave a sort of smile athwart the two
ladies. But John answered him with simplicity,
quite pleased that he too was interested in the
matter.

"I am," he said, "absurdly so. To tell you
the truth, there are one or two nights that I have
not slept for thinking of it. You must know
I have been foolish enough to put a good deal of
money on him; more indeed than I like. You'll
think me very absurd?"

"This 'low' horse again," thought Captain
Fermor, and answered with exquisite satire,
"Well, if you put it to me so directly, I must say
yes!" and he looked for the applause which the
stroke must extort. The bright flashing face
was cold and impassive, and turned towards
him with steadiness;, that of the younger was
waiting shyly, with a half smile of curiosity, to
hear more. A good opening for a handsome
exit off the stage. He made his bow, calling in
Lord Chesterfield. "Sorry," he said, "must
really go now. Have to be in barracks. So
glad to have had the pleasure, &c."

John Hanbury wrung his hand awfully.
"Don't you like them?" he whispered, as he
walked away a few steps with him. "You saw
how interested she was about the horse. The
fact is, I have set my heart on winning this race.
And with the race, old boy" he added, with a
hearty and dreadful familiarity that made
Fermor's blood curdle, "I shall win something else!
I must tell you I think it is all right—you understand
—the Younger one. Don't tell any fellow,
though. Good-by."

Now as Captain Fermor lifted his hat to the
two ladies, the idea before his mind had been
that he had happily lowered their respect by a
sort of contrast. So he naturally thought, with,
something like disgust, of the whole of the scene.
"How they can put up with that boor's insufferable
coarseness! It jars on me at every turn.
And how she can! If she was dressed properly,
and trained under good hands, she might do—in
Town." And Captain Fermor thought of the
soft liquid eyes, and that pleased expression of
curiosity as he talked. "All to be thrown away
on that low boor."

That low boor and the two ladies walked home
together; but they were more silent than usual.
"By the way, what do you think of Fermor?"
he said.

"He is very well," said the elder; " quite the
common run of exquisite. We know as much
of him now, as we ever shall."

"But he seems to know the world so well,"
said the younger girl, timidly.

The other's eyes flashed, and she laughed.
"How well you know the world, to tell us that,
Violet. I should never ask to see him again,
and if Mr. Hanbury is wise, he will never inflict
him on us again."

Mr. Hanbury looked mystified. "Why so ?"
he said; " would not that be rude?"

"Because we know him," she said. "And
there is nothing more to know of him; he is
conceit all over, and of the most foolish sort."

"He is a little fine," said John, reflectively.

"If you take my advice," said Miss Manuel,
meaningly, "for you own sake as well as for ours,
you will spare us his company."

"But he will amuse us," said the younger
sister, doubtfully. They were at their own door,
and she went in first. The elder girl stayed
behind a little with Mr. Hanbury. It was nearly
dark. The stars were out, and down at the
little port the lighthouse newly lit was twinkling.

"Why did you do that?" she said to him.
"He is a cold, heartless London creature. It
makes me uncomfortable to be in his society.
He says he wants amusement here, and who can
tell how he may find amusement. You know you
have called me the wise woman before now, and
I tell you I can read character, and he dont like
you. So, my dear honest John Hanbury, we
will leave him where he is."

John Hanbury went his way home that night
thinking very deeply. He respected and admired
Miss Manuel, so her words impressed him.
"She sees things where I don't," he thought,
and there certainly was a "nasty" bitter manner
in Fermor towards him.