Here a shriek and hoarse shouts as, by means of whip and curb and spur, I swung the animal in question from the dangerous proximity of a shop window and checked his impulse to walk on his hind legs. "Scarcely a lady's pad, Peregrine!" grinned Anthony, as I came perilously near upsetting a coster's barrow, to its owner's vociferous indignation. "Egad, a four-footed devil warranted to banish every other worry but himself!" "Precisely," said I, when my steed, moderating his ardour, permitted me coherent speech. "And this is the reason I ride him. No one mounted on Wildfire can think of anything but Wildfire and this is sometimes a blessing." "How so, Perry?" "Well, I am harassed of late by two obsessions--the memory of that poor--drowned child--I cannot forget her face!" "But, deuce take it, man--this was days and days ago." "And the other is, strangely enough--Diana. The thought that I shall meet her so soon--a nameless doubt--an indefinable dread--" "Dread, Perry? Doubt? What the dooce d'ye mean?" "That's the devil of it, Anthony--I--don't know. But I have a vague fear--a presentiment, if you like. I feel as if there was a dreadful something impending--a shadow--" "Oh, pshaw, man! Shadow? Tush an' be damned to it! You're in a devilish low state--indubitably stomach--" Here further converse was ended for the time being by Wildfire taking it into his head to snort and start, to prance and shiver at a large man in velveteens and a leather hat, whereupon Velveteens backed hastily and swore; Wildfire reared and plunged at him, whereupon Velveteens dodged into a doorway, cursing vehemently; people, at a safe distance, shouted; boys hooted; and then, having thus drawn attention to himself, Wildfire trotted daintily on again, leaving Velveteens spent and breathless with indignant cursings. So with such minor unpleasantnesses as roaring oaths, curses and personal vilification, we won free of the denser traffic and had at last left the great city behind us and Wildfire's scornful hoofs were spurning the dust of Kent Street. We rode by New Cross and Lewisham, through Lee Village with its two "Tiger" Inns and the stocks upon the green, through Eltham with the timeworn gables of its ancient palace rising on our right, dreaming of past glories. "To-morrow night, Perry--to-morrow night we shall see 'em! My Loveliness! Egad, I'm only just beginning to realise how damnably I miss her! Wonderful institution, marriage. To-morrow, Perry! And the day after--home at Nettlestead Abbey--she and I. She loves the old place--and the roses will be in bloom--she adores roses. This is why I'm dragging you down to Nettlestead--must see everything shipshape--the old place ready--with its arms out to welcome her home, d'ye see--as it were." "It is a glorious old place, Anthony." "A curst dreary hole without her, Perry! Nothing like marriage, Perry! You'll give up your chambers when you're married, of course?" "I suppose so, Tony--when I'm married."