commendation, and when I had
ended he shook me warmly by the hand, saying:--

"I give you great credit; you behaved in a very plucky manner all
through; I didn't think you had it in you; 'pon my word, I didn't. I
shall just tell Cumberland and ~46~~Snaffles a bit of my mind, too.
Here, Snaffles, you confounded old humbug, where are you?"

"Oh, don't say anything to him," said I; "it's never worth while being
angry with people of that kind; besides, Cumberland made him do it."

"That does not signify; he knew the danger to which he was exposing you,
perhaps better than Cumberland did. He had no business to do it, and
I'll make him beg your pardon before We leave this yard. Here, you
ostler fellow, where's your master?" shouted Lawless, as he turned into
the yard, where I soon heard the loud tones of his voice engaged in
angry colloquy with Snaffles, whose replies were inaudible.

In a short time the latter approached the spot where I was standing, and
began a very long and humble apology, saying that he should never have
thought of giving me the mare if he had not seen at a glance that I
was a first-rate rider, and much more to the same purpose, when Lawless
interrupted him with:--

"There, cut it short; Mr. Fairlegh does not want any more of your
blarney; and mind, if anything of the sort occurs again, I shall hire my
horses somewhere else, and take care to let all my friends know why I do
so. Now, let's be off; it's getting near dinner-time."

So saying, he turned to leave the yard, a movement which, as soon as
I had found my friend James, returned his spurs, and given him the
promised half-crown, I proceeded to imitate: and that ended the episode
of Mad Bess.

CHAPTER VI -- LAWLESS GETS THOROUGHLY PUT OUT

~45~~

..." What 'tis
To Have a stranger come--
It seems you know him not
No, sir! not I."
--Southey.

"Either forbear... or resolve you
For more amazement: if you can behold it,
I'll make the statue move indeed."
--Winter's Tale.

"Since the youth will not be entreated, his own peril on his
forwardness.... You shall try but one fall."
--_As You Like It_.

ON reaching home the door was opened by Thomas, who accosted us with:--

"Here's such a bit of fun, gentlemen! The new pupil's arrived, and ain't
he a rum un, jest? Oh, I never!"

~47~~"Why, how do you mean? what's