THE SPOTTED HORSE S STORY. 175 



On the celerity with which the evening 

 gHded by ; on the manner in which my divinity 

 enraptured me by her singing ; and on the 

 happiness I enjoyed as we turned over a book of 

 prints together, I will not dilate. The squire's 

 sister seemed less metallic, and everything 

 brighter ; and when I had retired to my room it 

 was with the certainty that I should eternally 

 adore Lucy, whose presence compensated ten 

 thousand times for any slight drawbacks I might 

 have to experience from uncongenial companions 

 or any other cause. 



As I descended the stairs next morning I 

 found that the squire was awaiting me at the 

 bottom. 



" You'll want to be quiet this morning, Cecil, 

 I know," he said "and I thought that you and 

 Forester and Packenham would prefer break- 

 fasting together in the Oak-room, and getting off 

 in good time. Dacre is going too, by-the-waj^ 

 He rides his own mare in the Handicap Sweep- 

 stakes." 



I did not catch the drift of his speech, and 

 expressed my inability to do so. 



" They will want to look over the course, yon 

 know, and I thought that you would like to 

 accompany them," he explained; and I was 

 glad to consent, having taken rather a fancy 

 to Forester. 



