' THE AILESBURY DUCK ' 313 



Had served his Queen 'neath Indian sunny skies, 

 But gained small honour, hurtled from his horse, 

 What time o'er hurdles he was matched to ride ; 

 And much distressed by deadly boxing gloves, 

 Tempting such hazard in a later day. 



He, while the Lordly Ailesbury, enthralled 

 With noble thoughts, was planning noble deeds, 

 Bore the sweet Dolly forth from out the Hall, 

 Nor stayed his wicked way till, far from ken, 

 In Southsea rooms he hid the shrieking fair. 

 There held he her, the victim of his will, 

 And smiled in bitter and in bilious spite 

 At thought of Ailesbury, the peerless Peer. 



Full fourteen days and fourteen direful nights 

 Had passed and Riley still held rule ; but she 

 Longed for the outer day and spoke him thus : 

 " My Lord for I am fain to call thee lord 

 Methinks the revels of the Moated Grange 

 Befall to-morrow. Let us thitherwards ; 

 The gentle knight of Dalbiac will be there 

 Surnamed * The Treasure,' for his preciousness 

 And all is ordered well for merry sport." 

 Then he, not loth for change " Ay, let us go ! " 



And so it fell that when the morrow's sun, 

 Obscured by clouds, had ushered in the day, 

 They to the Grange, with all the gladsome throng, 

 Hied and were happy, for 'twas good to see 

 The racing ponies and the gentlehood 

 Of all the country-side assembled there. 



