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WILD MARGARET, . 33 EE
dead. Blair Leyton hankered after no man’s property,
_ not even his uncle’s; whatever sins may have been laid to
his charge, he was innocent of that love of money which is
the root of all evil. ‘
‘So without a spark of envy or covetousness or ill-will, fe
he went to the stables and, nodding pleasantly to the a
head groom, went into the stalls. .
Of course’. the man knew who he was—the news had
spread all over the Court in five minutes!—and was re-
spectful, and in asecond or two more than that; for Blair’s
manner was as pleasant with high, low, Jack, and the game
all round.
‘*Some good horses,”’ he said.:
The man shook his head doubtfully.
‘‘Some, my lord,” he assented. ‘‘But not what they
ought to be for so biga place—begging your lordship’s par-
don. You see his lordship the earl only has the carriage’ ie
horses—and them only once now and again—and there’s
nobody to ride. I try to keep ’em up, but a man ‘loses
heart like, my lord.”’
‘*T understand,’”’ said Lord Blair, sympathetically. be
‘It’s a pity. Such a fine hunting country.” .
** Ah, isn’t it, my lord!’ said the man with asigh. ‘If Fe
the earl ’ud only take the hounds—but there ’’—and he i
sighed again.
Lord Blair went up tv a big black horse and smacked
him, a little attention which the animal responded to by
launching out viciously.
‘Nice nag!’ said Lord Blair, approvingly.
‘‘ All but his temper, my lord,” saidthe man. ‘‘ He’sas
crooked-minded a hoss as ever I see.”’
Lord Blair laughed.
‘*He’s straight enough in other ways,’ he said. ‘‘ Put
a saddle on him and I’}! take a turn.’’ . al
The man hesitated a second. _ Hh
‘‘He’s an awkward one to ride, my lord,’’ he ventured.
**So I should think,”’ said the young man; cheerfully;
‘but I like them awkward.”
_ The horse was saddled and brought out, and immedi-
ately commenced to verify the character bestowed upon
‘him.
‘*Tll-tempered dev—beast, Ill take him back, my lord,”’
_ said the groom; but, with a laugh, Lord Blair got into the
saddle, and as the horse reared brought him down in s0
neat a style that the groom’s misgivings fled. :
‘* All right, my lord,” he said, with an approving nod.
“Yes, it’s all right,’? said the young man, with another
laugh. ‘‘He’s rather hot just at present, but he’ll come
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