12 DAYS STOLEN FOR SPORT 



CHAPTER II 



Who so in thought enjoys his former life 

 Thus hves twice over. 



THE CONFIDENCE OF YOUTH PREVAILS — *THE HUNTER'S 

 inn' — FISHING FOR TROUT AND HUNTING FOR 

 FAIRIES. 



None but those who have in their 3/outh attempted 

 to propitiate bristling elderiy opponents to a step 

 not fully justified can possibly imagine the artfulness 

 needed to come through victorious. My father who, 

 I knew, prided himself on having carried off the 

 prettiest girl of a certain Devon parish before he was 

 twenty-one almost refused to help me when I asked 

 for aid to do as lie had done. 1 reasoned with him 

 almost in vain although I used the most conclusive 

 arguments : 'You married mother when you were 

 but little older than I am, and would do just the same 

 again in spite of the nine plagues she has brought to 

 bless your house. You aided, and abetted too, my 

 brothers and sisters in their love affairs, and enjoyed 

 it, but you desert your Benjamin in his greatest need 

 while I thought you would revel in it for him.' 



'My dear boy, your brothers were older than you 

 are. Please do not think of marrying for another 

 year or two. Why, were you to suggest it up at 

 Telsom, Nell would laugh, her mother have fits, and the 

 father would be here as fast as his horse's legs could 

 bring him to tell me of the joke.' 



'But, dad, you really hke Nell, don't you?' 



'I esteem her highly, but that's not the point just 

 now.' 



' "Esteem," that's not m.uch. Do you mean to say 

 you don't love her?' 



