"I have, and enough, with what the brewers would advance, to take a nice little country pub--one we can make into a hotel." "Ah, well," said Jane, primly, "it ain't no time to be talking about no hotels nor publics in the middle o' the night like this." "Why not?" "Because it ain't proper. Look here; is Mr Trimmer coming home?" "What, ain't he at home neither?" "No, nobody's come back but you. What about master? Is he along with her ladyship?" "No; he was took bad just afore the race, but Dr Granton give him a pick-me-up that kep' him going till he'd won the race." "Her ladyship had give him a talking-to, I suppose?" Mark grinned, winked, and lifted his elbow in a peculiar way, suggestive of drinking. "Oh-h-h!" exclaimed Jane, in a half-whisper. "What a shame!" "Sh!" whispered the groom. "Not a word. Don't say a word to a soul. I wouldn't have trusted anyone else with it, Jenny. I believe it was on'y a glass or two of fizz on the top of a bucketful of excitement because he was going to ride." "But there it is, you see, Mark! horses and racing leads to drinking, and I mean to think twice before I tie myself to anyone who drinks and gambles. Is master with her ladyship now?" "No, I tell you; he's badly, and stopping at Simpkins's, with Master Syd taking care of him; and her ladyship was took bad too, after a rumpus at the hotel." "Oh, how disgraceful!" interrupted Jane. "Her ladyship stooping to do that, and master getting tipsy and running races. I shall give notice, Mark. I've got a character to lose." "You'd better! You don't leave here till--you know." "Oh, no, I don't; and now I'm going to bed. But tell me, where did you say her ladyship was?" "How many more times?" cried the groom, impatiently. "I've told you five or six times." "You haven't, Mark." "I have. Her ladyship was took bad at the hotel when she found the guv'nor looking quite tight afore he went off to win the race, and only just in time to get up to the scratch. Then as soon as it was over the doctor has to physic him and see to her ladyship, and the doctor and Lady Tilborough takes her to Oakleigh." "Why didn't they bring her home?" said Jane, sharply. "How should I know? Because Lady Tilborough thought perhaps that master would join 'em there and make it up. But I dunno. Had too much business of my own to 'tend to." "What business?" said Jane, suspiciously. "Getting along with a bad set of touts, drinking, I suppose." "Get out! I was making sure of the money I'd won while I could. That's right; hang away from a fellow! Just like a woman! Think you're going to ketch something?" "That will do," said the girl, coldly. "You smell horrid of beer and smoke. Oh, Mark!" she whispered; and he had no room for complaints of a want of warmth, for the girl flung her arms about him, clinging tightly, and placed her lips closely to his ear. "There," she cried, in an agitated way; "hark! Is that fancy? There are burglars in the house."