The Coachmaster 



said nothing ; he looked terribly guilty. 

 *' Good morning t' ye, brother Peter," he 

 said. "Yes, I've come to have a look at 

 the beasts, if it won't be putting you out ;" 

 and a moment later he was in among them, 

 calling them by their names, patting them, 

 feeling their legs, and discussing them 

 amicably enough with the wily old fellow. 

 His face was clear of all anger now, " But 

 I think, brother Peter," he said, more than 

 once, " there is such a thing as too much 

 kindness towards beasts — more especially 

 horses;" and then carelessly, with a wave of 

 the hand towards the yard, '' I must tell 

 some of them fellows not to come 

 meddling with your work, and letting the 

 beasts eat their heads off! " At the stable 

 door he felt in his pocket. "Well, lad, 

 here's a crown for you and Jim, and keep 

 an eye on the feeding, won't you ? " he 

 said, and so left, chuckling at his own wili- 

 ness, and well content that the hint had 

 o-one home alonof with the coin. I fear he 

 was a mean old man. Uncle Peter. 

 Sprightly told me he often made sport of 

 my Father, in such clumsy fashion as was 

 possible to him^, behind his back ; and cer- 

 tain it is that when the troubles came he 

 was the first to leave the brother who had 

 so long employed and cared for him. 

 44 



