th the spur, and both riders urged their steeds
to a trot. Turning a bend of the road, they came suddenly upon a young
lady accompanied by two little boys, in smart velvet suits. They were
walking in the direction of Castleford--walking so smartly that the
smaller of the two boys went at a trot. "Hullo!" cried Colonel Ormonde,
pulling up for an instant. "What are you doing here? I hope the baby has
not been out so late?"

"Baby has gone to drive with mother," chorussed the boys eagerly, as if
a little awed.

"All right! Time you were home too," and he spurred after De Burgh.

"Mrs. Ormonde's boys?" asked the latter.

"Yes; have you never seen them?"

"I knew they existed, but I cannot say I ever beheld them before."

"Oh, Mrs. Ormonde never bores people with her brats."

"After they are out of infancy," returned the other, dryly.

A remark which helped to "rile" Colonel Ormonde, and he said little more
till they reached their destination, and both retired to enjoy the
luxury of a bath before dressing for dinner.

John de Burgh was a distant relation of Ormonde's, but having been
thrown together a good deal, they seemed nearer of kin than they really
were. De Burgh was somewhat overbearing, and dominated Colonel Ormonde
considerably. He was also somewhat lawless by nature, hating restraint
and intent upon his own pleasure. The discipline of military life, light
as it is to an officer, became intolerable to him when the excitement
and danger of real warfare were past, and he resigned his commission to
follow his own sweet will.

Ultimately he became renowned as a crack rider, and one of the best
steeple-chase jockeys on the turf in all competitions between gentlemen.

Mrs. Ormonde considered him quite an important personage, heir to an old
title, and first or second cousin to a host of peers. It took many a day
to accustom her to think of her husband's connections without a sense of
pride and exultation, at which Ormonde laughed heartily whenever he
perceived it. On his side De Burgh thought her a very pretty little toy,
quite amusing with her small airs and graces and assumption of
fine-ladyism, and he showed her a good deal of indolent attention, at
which her husband was rather flattered.

The rector of the parish and one or two officers of Colonel Ormonde's
old regiment, which happened to be quartered at a manufacturing town a
few miles distant, made up the party at dinner that evening, and
afterward they