pay his debts ever so many times.
May I ask how much you have won of him?"

"Well, some eighteen pieces the first day or two, and his note for a
hundred and twenty more, and the brown horse, sixty--that makes nigh
upon two hundred. But, you know, cousin, all was fair, and it was even
against my will that we played at all. Will ain't a match for me, my
lord--that is the fact. Indeed he is not."

"He is a match for most people, though," said my lord. "His brown horse,
I think you said?"

"Yes. His brown horse--Prince William, out of Constitution. You don't
suppose I would set him sixty against his bay, my lord?"

"Oh, I didn't know. I saw Will riding out this morning; most likely I
did not remark what horse he was on. And you won the black mare from the
parson?"

"For fourteen. He will mount Gumbo very well. Why does not the rascal
come round with the horses?" Harry's mind was away to lovely Maria. He
longed to be trotting by her side.

"When you get to Tunbridge, cousin Harry, you must be on the look-out
against sharper players than the chaplain and Will. There is all sorts
of queer company at the Wells."

"A Virginian learns pretty well to take care of himself, my lord, says
Harry, with a knowing nod.

"So it seems! I recommend my sister to thee, Harry. Although she is not
a baby in years, she is as innocent as one. Thou wilt see that she comes
to no mischief?"

"I will guard her with my life, my lord!" cries Harry.

"Thou art a brave fellow. By the way, cousin, unless you are very fond
of Castlewood, I would in your case not be in a great hurry to return to
this lonely, tumble-down old house. I want myself to go to another place
I have, and shall scarce be back here till the partridge-shooting. Go
you and take charge of the women, of my sister and the Baroness, will
you?"

"Indeed I will," said Harry, his heart beating with happiness at the
thought.

"And I will write thee word when you shall bring my sister back to me.
Here come the horses. Have you bid adieu to the Countess and Lady Fanny?
They are kissing their hands to you from the music-room balcony."

Harry ran up to bid these ladies a farewell. He made that ceremony very
brief, for he was anxious to be off to the charmer of his heart; and
came downstairs to mount his newly-gotten steed, which Gumbo, himself
astride on the parson's black mare, held by the rein.

There was Gumbo on the black mare, indeed, and holding another horse.
But it was a