Jimmy passed this by, as being beneath his dignity to reply to. "Lunch won't be for another half-hour," he said. "We might go and have a look at the gees. The governor bought a new pair of carriage horses the other day which I should like you to throw your eye over." "Which one?" asked Young George. "I can throw better with the right." "Funny ass!" said Jimmy. "I think the governor depends too much on the judgment of Kirby, the head coachman. He's a shooting man himself, and doesn't take the interest in his cattle that you or I would." "I like cattle myself," said Young George; "especially good milkers." Jimmy thought it was time to rebuke this spirit of levity. "You seem rather above yourself this morning, George," he said. "I suppose you're bucked with the idea of seeing Maggie Williams. You'll be glad to hear that I told Ruth to ask her to tea. I've no fancy for infants myself, but I'm aware some people like 'em." Young George blushed, but did not allow himself to be confounded. "Have you seen Kate Pemberton since you've been home?" he asked. "When you're ready to talk sensibly, I may perhaps tell you something about Kate Pemberton," said Jimmy. "As long as you're in this rotting mood, I prefer to keep it to myself." "I wouldn't rot upon such a serious subject as love's young dream," said Young George. "You ought to know me better than that, Jimmy." They had by this time reached the stables. It seemed to Young George that Jimmy showed some relief at being told that the head coachman was at his dinner. He told one of the grooms to strip the horses they had particularly come to inspect, and entered into a long and technical discussion with him as to their points and qualifications. Young George listened, not without admiration. He couldn't have done it so well himself, and his tendency to 'rot' was subdued by the time the inspection was over and they had left the stables on the way towards the house. "I say," he said, "what was it you wanted to tell me about Kate Pemberton?" Jimmy did not reply directly. "You know, old chap, I'm not so sure that you're not right in preferring a youngster like Maggie Williams," he said. "Girls of that age haven't got our knowledge of the world, of course. But they're devilish taking sometimes. And they look up to you more than an older woman does." "I like Maggie all right," said Young George, with elaborate unconcern. "She's very lively and amusing; but I've never said I was gone on her, as you've said you were on Kate Pemberton." "No, you haven't _said_ it," said Jimmy significantly. "However, I don't want to press for confidences you don't care about giving me. About Kate Pemberton--I must confess I have thought a good deal about her for the last two years--at least in the hunting season I have; it calmed down a bit last summer. Nobody could help admiring her on a horse."