22 Phyllis and Ophelia 



that was wanted in his stable, though he had not pro- 

 posed to show her and let her go into other hands before 

 he had talked the affair over with Thomas and with 

 Mr. Sharpe, the ' gentleman rider ' who performed on 

 Dossie's horses. Thomas was a shrewd, hard-headed 

 man of thirty, whose face and manner belied him. He 

 looked a decent, civil servant, one who was meant by 

 nature for a groom, and was at once recognised as that 

 and nothing else. He had been in two or three good 

 services, but an inclination towards roguery had proved 

 irresistible, had destroyed his prospects when allowed 

 full play, and so he was landed as factotum to Dossie, 

 who was a keen hand at a bargain and knew his way 

 about well enough, but had in the course of some two 

 years been taught more sharp practice of the modern 

 school by Thomas and Mr. Sharpe than he had 

 gathered in a good deal more than forty years' ex- 

 perience of men and horses. 



' Well, sir, I think I have just what you want. Will 

 you step this way, please, sir ? ' Dossie said, leading the 

 way across the yard to the opposite stable and opening 

 the gate of a loose box. 



' That's more like it, Mr. Dossie ! ' Osborne remarked, 

 as he looked over a handsome bay mare that came 

 forward amicably with her nose out to investigate her 

 visitors. 



* Handle her, sir — handle her ! ' Dossie exclaimed. 

 ' The more you know of her the more you'll like her. 

 She's as quiet as a lamb. Good all round, I think 

 you'll say, sir. No fear of her not jumping, with those 

 shoulders and quarters — but perhaps you'd like to throw 

 your leg over her, sir ? Certainly ! By all means ! 

 Put a saddle on, Thomas ! ' 



