The Leather Plater. 305 



gave him the choice of two of the best horst- s in his stnble. Radford 

 chose an old brood mare and the black mare Plover, then rising four 

 years old. 



The old father did not long survive his daughter, although he 

 never by deed or word gave the slightest outward mdication that 

 remorse for his past conduct was silently wearing him out. The 

 canker was gnawing at his heart, and in less than twelve months 

 the family vault received another guest, and the old man slept side 

 by side with his once loved daughter. Had he but listened to the 

 voice of affection instead of that of pride, both father and daughter 

 would still have been alive and happy, and the close of the old man's 

 life might have been cheered by the love and kindness of a child, 

 who, save by an imprudent marriage — how coldly and devoid of all 

 affection does this hacknied phrase sound — had never given him an 

 hour's uneasiness in her life. The estates were strictly entailed, 

 and as the old man had always lived pretty ^\'ell up to his income, 

 he left but little personal property. All he had he bequeathed to 

 his nephew, a captain in the Royal Navy, who succeeded to 

 the estates. 



Radford never had any communication with this gentleman; 

 and the sad tale of Annie's mother, like other events in this world, 

 by degrees became forgotten. Neither Radford nor his wife ever 

 breathed the slightest hint to Annie that she was anything but their 

 own daughter, and the little girl, in whose veins some of the best 

 and oldest blood in England flowed, grew up and thrived in the 

 rude district to which she had been transported under the fostering 

 care of the old groom and his wife, as wild and unrestrained as any 

 one of the colts which roamed over its rugged pastures. Had she 

 been their own daughter, the worthy old couple could not have 

 treated her more kindly. No one was allowed even to say an un- 

 kind word to Annie, who did exactly as she pleased at the Lodge. 

 Old Radford's wife died when Annie was twelve years of age, and 

 the old man, who determined scrupulously to fulfil the sacred trust 

 U^hich he had undertaken, took little Annie up to London, and 

 placed her at one of the best ladies' boarding-schools which he cou}d 



X 



