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Or rather she had eyes only to dazzle, not to welcome, andfor this purpose Jock
was poor game.
Ibegan when I was a nipper as stable-boy at Badminton, with the
oldDook.
Now let us have your story, and then youllhear ours.
Horses could be
provided, said the landlady.
What is wrong with Hungrygrain besides the
name?
Well, that woman is the pivot of the thing.
She had reduced him to the
undergraduate, the hobbledehoy who hadintruded himself upon his elders.
At this
point it behoves the chronicler to get on more easy termswith his hero.
That
was an accident as no mortal man could prevent, he declared. Then, as the
vapour thinned herealised that it was actually daylight.
Conversation ceased
whilethe first pangs of hunger were being quieted.
His orders about the coach,
too, were being exactly fulfilled.
And yonold Jezebel of an aunt girning at me!
Mr Lammas jumped to his feet inconsternation.
Its anawful thing the speed of
this modern world.
They ave em in Oxford, but youre notthat breed. In the
shafts was an animal, one of whose nearprogenitors must have been a
carthorse.
My father told you that Belses was being made a fool of by a
woman.
But I dont reckonim a finished whip, more what they calls a Ercules.
Mr
Tolley knew his job, for even in what seemed areckless gallop he steered a
course. I have a private mission as well, and that is of extreme urgency.
They
dont let any amateur serve his Majesty. She had reduced him to the
undergraduate, the hobbledehoy who hadintruded himself upon his elders. His
feelings were a compound of angerand excitement.
Mr Tolley saw it too, for he
rose in his seat and endeavoured topull up his team.
He clenched a fist with
whichhe would joyfully have assaulted Sir Turnours comeliness. To us he shall
be Nanty, as he already was to JockKinloch and to the humblest bejant of St
Andrews. He recognised both the voice and the song.
He picked himself up,
shaken but with unbroken bones, and hurriedback to the place of disaster. Would
it surprise you to hear that at this moment Belses is along sight nearer
Berwick than London?
He clenched a fist with whichhe would joyfully have
assaulted Sir Turnours comeliness.
Nanty looked out, and saw Mr Dott seated in
a high red gig withyellow wheels.
In two minutes the coach would begone, and he
would have failed in his duty of urgent speed. Ill have a cup of tea with you
when the wife brings it, but Imust get back to the boat.
Hell find some wild
things there, said the latter.
His plain neckcloth was perfectly tied,and his
long hunting waistcoat had not a crease in it. Jock drank, and presently he
raised his head.
Wed ave daylight if onlythis blasted fog would lift. Not
precisely, but Berwick will be my headquarters.
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