BILL'S CHANGE 91 



about a couple of miles from New Barns, the residence of 

 " Natt}^ " Fielding, the trainer. He in the brown suit, 

 breeches and leggings was our young friend Daubeney, a 

 slim, smart little fellow of eighteen or nineteen, with a bright 

 gentlemanly face, and manners that had gained him the 

 nickname of "the Duke" among the lads at New Barns. 

 Popular as he undoubtedly was, it was only after he had 

 thrashed a couple of them for undue interference that the 

 rest discovered that he was not half a bad fellow if allowed to 

 go his own way, which, however, was not quite theirs. They 

 admired him for his pluck and fine riding, and forgave him 

 for his want of judgment in not making any of them his 

 bosom friends. His companion this evening was a young 

 lady of about his own age and height, fair-haired, blue-eyed, 

 and, without being a beauty, with a winning little face that 

 made most people take a second look at her, and left a 

 pleasant impression on their minds. 



Bessie Wentworth was the only child of blutf old Tom 

 Wentworth, a man of no little influence and importance in 

 the district, and generally looked upon as a good sportsman 

 and a good fellow. He had once farmed in Lincolnshire, and 

 knoAV Newcombe Daubeney well, so that a letter from the 

 latter concerning our young friend at New Barns soon 

 brought about a kindly invitation from Tom Wentworth to 

 come over some Sunday to Hartleigh Manor. This was gladly 

 accepted, the old man was pleased with the youngster, who 

 had struck out a line for himself, and by degrees young 

 Daubeney quite wormed himself into the kind, bluff old 

 farmer's affections. With Mrs. Wentworth, too, he was a 

 great favourite, his quiet, gentlemanly manners proving much 

 to her taste, and he always found a ready welcome whenever 

 he called at Hartleigh. And the other member of the family, 

 Bessie, the pride of the old couple's hearts, and the apple of 

 their eyes ? A friendship that had commenced at the very 



