Sir Brook Fossbrooke Volume I Part 39

"My husband has been sent for to town, Captain Traf-ford," said she, turning her head towards him as he resumed his place at her side; "the Chief Baron desires to see him immediately, and he sets off at once."

"And his race? What 's to become of his match?"

"He said I was to ask you to ride for him."

"Me--I ride! Why, I am two stone heavier than he is."

"I suppose he knew that," said she, coldly, and as if the matter was one of complete indifference to her. "I am only delivering a message,"

continued she, in the same careless tone; "he said, 'Ask Captain Trafford to ride for me and take up my book; 'I was to be particular about the phrase 'take up;' I conclude you will know what meaning to attach to it."

"I suspect I do," said he, with a low soft laugh.

"And I was to add something about hints he was to give you, if you 'd go round to his dressing-room at once; indeed, I believe you have little time to spare."

"Yes, I'll go,--I 'll go now; only there 's one thing I 'd like to ask--that is--I'd be very glad to know--"

"What is it?" said she, after a pause, in which his confusion seemed to increase with every minute.

"I mean, I should like to know whether you wished me to ride this race or not?"

"Whether _I_ wished it?" said she, in a tone of astonishment.

"Well, whether you cared about the matter one way or other?" replied he, in still deeper embarra.s.sment.

"How could it concern me, my dear Captain Trafford?" said she, with an easy smile; "a race never interests me much, and I 'd just as soon see Blue and Orange come in as Yellow and Black; but you 'll be late if you intend to see my husband; I think you 'd better make haste."

"So I will, and I 'll be back immediately," said he, not sorry to escape a scene where his confusion was now making him miserable.

"You _are_ a very nice horse!" said she, patting the animal's neck, as he chafed to dash off after the other. "I 'd like very much to own you; that is, if I ever was to call anything my own."

"They 're clearing the course, Mrs. Sewell," said one of her companions, riding up; "we had better turn off this way, and ride down to the stand."

"Here's a go!" cried another, coming up at speed. "Big Trafford is going to ride Crescy; he 's well-nigh fourteen stone."

"Not thirteen: I 'll lay a tenner on it."

"He can ride a bit," said a third.

"I 'd rather he 'd ride his own horse than mine."

"Sewell knows what he 's about, depend on 't."

"That's his wife," whispered another; "I'm certain she heard you."

Mrs. Sewell turned her head as she cantered along, and, in the strange smile her features wore, seemed to confirm the speaker's words; but the hurry and bustle of the moment drowned all sense of embarra.s.sment, and the group dashed onward to the stand.

Leaving that heaving, panting, surging tide of humanity for an instant, let us turn to the house, where Sewell was already engaged in preparing for the road.

"You are going to ride for me, Trafford?" said Sewell, as the other entered his dressing-room, where, with the aid of his servant, he was busily packing up for the road.

"I 'm not sure; that is, I don't like to refuse, and I don't see how to accept."

"My wife has told you; I 'm sent for hurriedly."

"Yes."

"Well?" said he, looking round at him from his task.

"Just as I have told you already; I 'd ride for you as well as a heavy fellow could take a light-weight's place, but I don't understand about your book--am I to stand your engagements?"

"You mean, are you to win all the money I'm sure to pocket on the match?"

"No, I don't mean that," said he, laughing; "I never thought of trading on another man's brains; I simply meant, am I to be responsible for the losses?"

"If you ride Crescy as you ought to ride him, you needn't fret about the losses?"

"But suppose that I do not--and the case is a very possible one--that, not knowing your horse--"

"Take this portmanteau down, Bob, and the carpet-bag; I shall only lose my train," said Sewell, with a gesture of hot impatience; and as the servant left the room, he added: "Pray don't think any more about this stupid race; scratch Crescy, and tell my wife that it was a change of mind on "my" part,--that I did not wish you to ride; good-bye;" and he waved a hasty adieu with his hand, as though to dismiss him at once.

"If you 'll let me ride for you, I 'll do my best," blundered out Trafford; "when I spoke of your engagements, it was only to prepare you for what perhaps you were not aware of, that I 'm not very well off just now, and that if anything like a heavy sum--"

"You are a most cautious fellow; I only wonder how you ever did get into a difficulty; but I 'm not the man to lead you astray, and wreck such splendid principles; adieu!"

"I 'll ride, let it end how it may!" said Trafiford, angrily, and left the room at once, and hurried downstairs.

Sewell gave a parting look at himself in the gla.s.s; and as he set his hat jauntily on one side, said, "There 's nothing like a little mock indignation to bully fellows of _his_ stamp; the keynote of their natures is the dread of being thought mean, and particularly of being thought mean by a woman." He laughed pleasantly at this conceit, and went on his way.

CHAPTER x.x.xI. SEWELL ARRIVES IN DUBLIN

It was late at night when Sewell reached town. An accidental delay to the train deferred the arrival for upwards of an hour after the usual time; and when he reached the Priory, the house was all closed for the night, and not a light to be seen.

He knocked, however, and rang boldly; and after a brief delay, and considerable noise of unbolting and unbarring, was admitted. "We gave you up, sir, after twelve o'clock," said the butler, half reproachfully, "and his Lordship ordered the servants to bed. Miss Lendrick, however, is in her drawing-room still."

"Is there anything to eat, my good friend? That is what I stand most in need of just now."

"There's a cold rib of beef, sir, and a grouse pie; but if you 'd like something hot, I 'll call the cook."

"No, no, never mind the cook; you can give me some sherry, I 'm sure?"

"Any wine you please, sir. We have excellent Madeira, which ain't to be had everywhere nowadays."

"Madeira be it, then; and order a fire in my room. I take it you have a room for me?"

"Yes, sir, all is ready; the bath was hot about an hour ago, and I 'll have it refreshed in a minute."

"Now for the grouse pie. By the way, Fenton, what is the matter with his Lordship? He was n't ill, was he, when he sent off that despatch to me?"