A DECEIVING HORSE. 131 



'' Good morning- to you ; and what may it be you want ?" 



For Jack's " personal " was not very prepossessing- ; and 

 Mr. Carre had too many hangers-on from the town to 

 give much encouragement to any of the sort. 



" If you please, sir, I come from Mr. Wilson with that 

 horse last night, and " — 



'^ Yes, yes, I heard of it. And how is Mr. Wilson, and 

 how is Harmony, eh?" 



*^ Measter is tidy, thank you, sir, and the little bitch as 

 fat as butter.' ' 



"■ That's all right. Well, give my compliments and best 

 thanks to your master, and ' ' — as Jack still hesitated — 

 '* here is something for yourself." 



'^ Thankee, sir," said Jack, with a very marked 

 emphasis on his words ; for he had really got more than 

 he expected, however open he was to handling- a half- 

 <;rown or two. Still he readily put it down to his care of 

 the puppy ; and went on to ask of Evans where he should 

 find his horse ? 



'' Your WHAT ?" said the Squire, utterly eclipsing 

 Jack's own emphasis of expression. 



'' The horse, sir — the horse I brought here last nig-ht." 



'' Yes, yes, we all know that- and what then?" 



" Why then, sir, I be to take 'un on this morning- to 

 Mr. Dominie's, at Thistley." 



^^ What in the world were you going to take him there 

 for? Dominie has no want for flesh." 



" No, sir, not as I knows on ; but they be going to put 

 'un to work again.'* 



Evans looked hard at the Squire, and the Squire looked 

 as hard at Jack. 



" By Jove ! my man, I'm afraid we've put 'un to work 

 again in a way you hardly bargained for. Here, do you 



k2 



