to tell
you so. Go. Go now." He motioned me to leave him, and I went. Straight
to my room I went, and sat down at once to write it all to mother. My
heart swelled with indignation at the way I had been received, and a
hundred times over did I say to myself that there was no poverty, no
hardship I would not face rather than buy a life of splendor on such
ignominious terms. Oh, if I could but get back again to the little home
I had quitted, how I would bless the hour that restored me to peace
of mind and self-respect! As I wrote, my indignation warmed with every
line. I found that my passion was actually mastering my reason. Better
to finish this, later on,--when I shall be cooler, thought I; and I
walked to my window and opened it. There were voices of people speaking
in the paddock below, and I leaned over the balcony and saw the two men
I had seen at breakfast, seated on rustic chairs, watching a young horse
being broken to the saddle. The well-worn ring in the grass showed that
this spot was reserved for such purposes, nor was I displeased to know
that such a source of interest lay so near to me.

"Isn't he one of your Mexicans, George?" asked Captain Hotham.

"No, sir, he's a Hungarian-bred 'un. Master calls him a Jucker, whatever
that is."

"Plenty of action, anyhow."

"A little too much, sir; that's his fault. He's a-comin' now, and it's
all they can do to keep him going over the park paling. Take this
one back," said he to the groom, who was ringing a heavy-shouldered,
ungainly colt in the ring.

"You 'll not gain much credit by that animal, George," said Cleremont,
as he lighted a cigar.

"He ain't a beauty, sir; he 's low before, and he's cow-hocked behind;
but Sir Roger says he's the best blood in Norfolk. Take care, take care,
sir! the skittish devil never knows where he 'll send his hind-legs.
Steady, Tom, don't check him: why, he's sweating as if he had been round
the two-mile course."

The animal that called for this criticism was a dark chestnut, but so
bathed in sweat as to appear almost black. He was one of those cross
breeds between the Arab and the western blood, that gain all the beauty
of head and crest and straightly formed croup, and yet have length of
body and depth of rib denied to the pure Arab. To my thinking he was the
most perfect creature I had ever seen, and as he bounded and plunged,
there was a supple grace and pliancy about him indescribably beautiful.

George now unloosened th