A TROT, AND A DINNER PARTY. 67 



to talk about, just for once. It will be a cbarity, I 

 assure you." 



''As you say, duke," replied Fairfax; "but take 

 my watch if you want to time, it is an independent 

 quarter second. Stop her now, and start her just as 

 we pass the mile stone ; and stop her again as we 

 pass the second — are you up to it?" 



" Tant soit peu. I picked it up a little from a com- 

 patriot of yours, Mr. Corbin." 



" Oh, Frank — of course. Not a compatriot only, 

 but a CO- Virginian. If you learned of him, you are a 

 good hand at it I doubt not. Get away, lads. Off!" 



And away they went at the word at a tearing pace ; 

 for though by far too well broke to rake or pull, or* 

 even snatch their bits when it was not their cue to go, 

 still both their bloods were well up, and the instant 

 they knew by the tightened rein and taughted hand 

 of their driver that go was the word ; go they did, 

 and in earnest, increasing their pace at every stroke, 

 and making the gravel and small stones, launched by 

 their quick falling hoofs against the sounding dash- 

 board, rattle and patter like a March hail-storm. So 

 rapidly did they shoot past the carriage of Lady Ches- 

 hire that, although Percy Fairfax looked with all his 

 eyes, he could catch but a passing flash from a pair of 

 beautiful black eyes, framed as it were by a profusion 

 of black ringlets, which waved across the lovely fea- 

 tures, as she leaned a little forward from the window 

 to catch a glimpse of that fast fleeting meteor-wagon, 

 and to recognize with a rapid kiss of her gloved fin- 

 gers the deep bow of the Duke of Beaufort. 



But as they whirled past the windows of the club- 

 houses, now crowded to overflowing, and went by the 

 mile-stone which was in this instance to act as their 

 starting post, with Beaufort evidently marking the 

 time on a stop-watch, and Cheshire and the count 

 tearing along, literally as who should say the devil 



