Bun looked upon the two with scorn. He was the youngest, and was wise. He too was fair, with sullen eyes, He too (a year before) had had A zest for going to the bad, With Cob and Nob. He knew the joys Of drinking with the stable-boys, Or smoking while he filled his skin With pints of Guinness dashed with gin And Cobby yelled a bawdy ditty, Or cutting Nobby for the kitty, And damning peoples' eyes and guts, Or drawing evening-church for sluts, He knew them all and now was quit. [Illustration: Third colored plate _Courtesy Arthur Ackermann and Son, New York_] Sweet Polly Colway managed it. And Bunny changed. He dropped his drink (The pleasant pit's seductive brink), He started working in the stable, And well, for he was shrewd and able. He left the doubtful female friends Picked up at Evening-Service ends, He gave up cards and swore no more. Nob called him "the Reforming Whore," "The Soul's Awakening," or "The Text," Nob being always coarse when vext. Ed Manor's friends were Hawke and Sladd, Old college friends, the last he had, Rare horsemen, but their nerves were shaken By all the whiskey they had taken. Hawke's hand was trembling on his rein. His eyes were dead-blue like a vein, His peaked sad face was touched with breeding, His querulous mind was quaint from reading, His piping voice still quirked with fun. Many a mad thing he had done, Riding to hounds and going to races. A glimmer of the gambler's graces, Wit, courage, devil, touched his talk. [Illustration: Ed Manor's friends were Hawke and Sladd] Sladd's big fat face was white as chalk, His mind went wondering, swift yet solemn, Twixt winning-post and betting column, The weights and forms and likely colts. He said "This road is full of jolts. I shall be seasick riding here. O damn last night with that liqueur." Len Stokes rode up on Peterkin; He owned the Downs by Baydon Whin; And grazed some thousand sheep; the boy Grinned round at men with jolly joy At being alive and being there. His big round face and mop of hair Shone, his great teeth shone in his grin, The clean blood in his clear tanned skin Ran merry, and his great voice mocked His young friends present till they rocked.