“That’s what it is to have plenty of money,” said Ralph, with a grave face. “You see things on the other side didn’t turn out as well as I expected. I’ve brought her a wedding present, though. He looks leggy at present, but he’s a good sort. You wouldn’t know his sire’s name perhaps, but it’s well known in Yorkshire, and if he’s well trained he’ll make a horse. There he is at the gate. I don’t say but he looks a bit leggy as he is now----” “Oh--is it that foal? l am sure it was very kind of you, Ralph,” said Mrs. Hill, in an extremely doubtful tone. They had all gone to the window to look, and for a moment there had been some perplexity in the minds of the ladies as to which of the two animals visible was the wedding present--the half-grown stable-boy or the neglected colt. Mary repeated, still more doubtfully, “I am sure it is very kind of you, Ralph,” and there was a momentary pause of consternation. But this Lord Frogmore disposed of in his brisk way. “We’ll send him to the Park,” he said, “where I don’t doubt he’ll be attended to; and who knows what races you may not win with him, Mary. She shall run him under her own name. We’ll make the Frogmore colors known on the turf, eh, my dear? Mr. Ravelstone has given you a most valuable present, and for my part I am very much obliged.” “Lord Frogmore always speaks up handsome,” said Ralph. “I saw that the first moment we met at Tisch’s little place. And that little shaver, don’t you remember? By Jove, now he’ll have his little nose put out of joint.” It was not perhaps a very elegant joke, and the ladies took no notice of it save by alarmed mutual glances between themselves. But Frogmore--the refined and polite little old gentleman; Frogmore, with his old-fashioned superiority in manners; Frogmore--laughed! There was no doubt of it--laughed and chuckled with satisfaction. “Well,” he said, “such things can’t be helped. It’s best in all circumstances not to count one’s eggs before---- My brother John’s family were, perhaps, what we may call a little cocksure.” “I don’t know much about your brother,” said Ralph. “But, lord, I shouldn’t like to come in Tisch’s way when she knows. Oh, she knows, does she? I’d just like to see her face when she reads it in the papers. Tisch is a fine one for pushing on in the world, but when she’s roused----” “Ralph,” said Mrs. Hill, “you might be better employed than speaking against your sister. She has been very kind to Mary; and Lord Frogmore would never have met my daughter at all if it had not been in her house.” “That was all the worse for me perhaps, Mrs. Hill,” said Ralph.