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bon…bons； packed up and directed by his own hand。 It would be
ridiculous to be prying and analytic in such cases； as if one were
inquiring into the character of a confidential clerk。 We use round；
general； gentlemanly epithets about a young man of birth and
fortune； and ladies； with that fine intuition which is the
distinguishing attribute of their sex； see at once that he is “nice。”
The chances are that he will go through life without scandalising
any one； a seaworthy vessel that no one would refuse to insure。
Ships； certainly； are liable to casualties； which sometimes make
terribly evident some flaw in their construction that would never
have been discoverable in smooth water； and many a “good
fellow；” through a disastrous combination of circumstances； has
undergone a like betrayal。
But we have no fair ground for entertaining unfavourable
auguries concerning Arthur Donnithorne； who this morning
proves himself capable of a prudent resolution founded on
conscience。 One thing is clear： Nature has taken care that he shall
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never go far astray with perfect comfort and satisfaction to
himself； he will never get beyond that borderland of sin； where he
will be perpetually harassed by assaults from the other side of the
boundary。 He will never be a courtier of Vice； and wear her orders
in his button…hole。
It was about ten o’clock； and the sun was shining brilliantly；
everything was looking lovelier for the yesterday’s rain。 It is a
pleasant thing on such a morning to walk along the well…rolled
gravel on one’s way to the stables； meditating an excursion。 But
the scent of the stables； which； in a natural state of things； ought to
be among the soothing influences of a man’s life； always brought
with it some irritation to Arthur。 There was no having his own way
in the stables； everything was managed in the stingiest fashion。
His grandfather persisted in retaining as head groom an old dolt
whom no sort of lever could move out of his old habits； and who
was allowed to hire a succession of raw Loamshire lads as his
subordinates； one of whom had lately tested a new pair of shears
by clipping an oblong patch on Arthur’s bay mare。 This state of
things is naturally embittering； one can put up with annoyances in
the house； but to have the stable made a scene of vexation and
disgust is a point beyond what human flesh and blood can be
expected to endure long together without danger of misanthropy。
Old John’s wooden； deep…wrinkled face was the first object that
met Arthur’s eyes as he entered the stable…yard； and it quite
poisoned for him the bark of the two bloodhounds that kept watch
there。 He could never speak quite patiently to the old blockhead。
“You must have Meg saddled for me and brought to the door at
half…past eleven； and I shall want Rattler saddled for Pym at the
same time。 Do you hear？”
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“Yes； I hear； I hear； Cap’n；” said old John very deliberately；
following the young master into the stable。 John considered a
young master as the natural enemy of an old servant； and young
people in general as a poor contrivance for carrying on the world。
Arthur went in for the sake of patting Meg； declining as far as
possible to see anything in the stables； lest he should lose his
temper before breakfast。 The pretty creature was in one of the
inner stables； and turned her mild head as her master came beside
her。 Little Trot； a tiny spaniel； her inseparable companion in the
stable； was comfortably curled up on her back。
“Well； Meg； my pretty girl；” said Arthur； patting her neck； “we’ll
have a glorious canter this morning。”
“Nay； your honour； I donna see as that can be；” said John。
“Not be？ Why not？”
“Why； she’s got lamed。”
“Lamed； confound you！ What do you mean？”
“Why； th’ lad took her too close to Dalton’s hosses； an’ one on
’em flung out at her； an’ she’s got her shank bruised o’ the near
foreleg。”
The judicious historian abstains from narrating precisely what
ensued。 You understand that there was a great deal of strong
language； mingled with soothing “who…ho’s” while the leg was
examined； that John stood by with quite as much emotion as if he
had been a cunningly carved crab…tree walking…stick； and that
Arthur Donnithorne presently repassed the iron gates of the
pleasure…ground without singing as he went。
He considered himself thoroughly disappointed and annoyed。
There was not another mount in the stable for himself and his
servant besides Meg and Rattler。 It was vexatious； just when he
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wanted to get out of the way for a week or two。 It seemed culpable
in Providence to allow such a combination of circumstances。 To be
shut up at the Chase with a broken arm when every other fellow in
his regiment was enjoying himself at Windsor—shut up with his
grandfather； who had the same sort of affection for him as for his
parchment deeds！ And to be disgusted at every turn with the
management of the house and the estate！ In such circumstances a
man necessarily gets in an ill humour； and works off the irritation
by some excess or other。 “Salkeld would have drunk a bottle of
port every day；” he muttered to himself； “but I’m not well
seasoned enough for that。 Well； since I can’t go to Eagledale； I’ll
have a gallop on Rattler to Norburne this morning； and lunch with
Gawaine。”
Behind this explicit resolution there lay an implicit one。 If he
lunched with Gawaine and lingered chatting； he should not reach
the Chase again till nearly five； when Hetty would be safe out of
his sight in the housekeeper’s room； and when she set out to go
home； it would be his lazy time after dinner； so he should keep out
of her way altogether。 There really would have been no harm in
being kind to the little thing； and it was worth dancing with a
dozen ballroom belles only to look at Hetty for half an hour。 But
perhaps he had better not take any more notice of her； it might
put notions into her head； as Irwine had hinted； though Arthur； for
his part； thought girls were not by any means so soft and easily
bruised； indeed； he had generally found them twice as cool and
cunning as he was himself。 As for any real harm in Hetty’s case； it
was out of the question： Arthur Donnithorne accepted his own
bond for himself with perfect confidence。
So the twelve o’clock sun saw him galloping towards Norburne；
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and by good fortune Halsell Common lay in his road and gave him
some fine leaps for Rattler。 Nothing like “taking” a few bushes and
ditches for exorcising a demon； and it is really astonishing that the
Centaurs； with their immense advantages in this way； have left so
bad a reputation in history。
After this； you will perhaps be surprised to hear that although
Gawaine was at home； the hand of the dial in the courtyard had
scarcely cleared the last stroke of three when Arthur returned
through the entrance…gates； got down from the panting Ratt