oe goes and
peels off his duds and hands 'em over to Jim, rough great-coat and
all--up to his chin and down to his toes.

Joe takes Jim's togs. They fitted him all to pieces, and Jim hands him
over his horse, saddle, revolver, and spurs, and tells him the old horse
is a real plum, and he hopes he'll be good to him. Then Jim shakes hands
with us all round. Blessed if the girls wasn't up too, and had some
coffee smoking hot for us. 'We can sleep when you're all gone,' says
Maddie, 'and perhaps we shan't see old Jim any more' (this was said when
Joe was out of the room), 'so here's good luck; and when you've got your
wife and child again don't forget Maddie Barnes.' Then she shook hands
with him, and made a quick bolt to her own room. Queer things women are,
my word.

When old Jim drove round to the front with the pair of horses, setting
up square with his big coat and Joe's 'full-share' hat on him, we all
bursted out laughing. He'd first of all gone to the old gentleman's room
and sung out, 'All aboard, sir, time's up,' just to liven him up a bit.
Joe kept away down at the stable.

Well, presently out comes the old chap, with a veil on and his green
goggles, winkin' and blinkin' as if he couldn't see a door from a
window. He drinks off a cup of coffee and takes a munch of bread and
butter, makes a kind of bow to Bella, and shuffles into his carriage.
Jim touches up the horses and away they go. We rose a bit of a cheer.
Maddie waved her handkerchief out of the window. Jim looked round and
raised his whip. That was the last sight any of us had of him for many a
day. Poor old Jim!

Chapter 41

We hadn't been long at home, just enough to get tired of doing nothing,
when we got a letter from Bella Barnes, telling us that she was going to
get married the day after the Turon races, and reminding Starlight that
he had promised to come to her wedding. If he didn't think it was too
risky, she hoped he'd come. There was going to be a race ball, and it
was sure to be good fun. It would be a good wind-up, and Maddie was
coming out a great swell. Sir Ferdinand would be there, but there'd be
such a crowd anybody would pass muster, and so on.

'Yours sincerely,

'Isabella Barnes.

'P.S.--There was a big handicap, with 500 added; hadn't we a good horse
enough?'

'Well done, Bella!' says Starlight. 'I vote we go, Dick. I never went to
a hop w