Again at Killancodlem
Silverbridge remained at Crummie-Toddie under the
dominion of Reginald Dobbes till the second week of
September. Popplecourt, Nidderdale and Gerald
Palliser were there also, very obedient and upon the
whole efficient. Tregear was intractable, occasional,
and untrustworthy. He was the cause of much trouble
to Mr Dobbes. He would entertain a most heterodox
and injurious idea that he had come to Crummie-Toddie
for amusement, and he was not bound to do anything
that did not amuse him. He would not understand
that in sport as in other matters there was an ambition,
driving man on to excel always and be ahead of others.
In spite of this Mr Dobbes had cause for much triumph.
It was going to be the greatest thing ever done by
six guns in Scotland. As for Gerald, whom he had
regarded as a boy; and who had offended him by saying
that Crummie-Toddie was ugly,—he was ready
to go round the world for him. He had indoctrinated
Gerald with all his ideas of a sportsman,—even
to a contempt for champagne and a conviction that
tobacco should be moderated. The three lords too
had proved themselves efficient, and the thing was
going to be a success. But just when a day was
of vital importance, when it was essential that there
should be a strong party for a drive, Silverbridge
found it absolutely necessary that he should go over
to Killancodlem.
‘She has gone,’ said Nidderdale.
‘Who the —— is she?’
asked Silverbridge almost angrily.
‘Everybody know who she is,’ said Popplecourt.
’It will be a good thing when some she has got
hold of you, my boy, so as to keep you in your proper
place.’
’If you cannot withstand that sort of attraction
you ought not to go in for shooting at all,’
said Dobbes.
‘I shouldn’t wonder at his going,’
continued Nidderdale, ’if we didn’t all
know that the American is no longer there. She
has gone to—Bath, I think they say.’
‘I suppose it Mrs Jones herself,’ said
Popplecourt.
‘My dear boy,’ said Silverbridge, ’you
may be quite sure that when I say that I am going
to Killancodlem I mean to go to Killancodlem, and
that no chaff about young ladies,—which
I think very disgusting,—will stop me.
I shall be sorry if Dobbes’s roll of the killed
should be lessened by a single hand; seeing that his
ambition sets that way. Considering the amount
of slaughter we have perpetrated, I really think that
we need not be over anxious.’ After this
nothing further was said. Tregear, who knew that
Mabel Grex was still at Killancodlem, had not spoken.
In truth Mabel had sent for Lord Silverbridge, and
this had been her letter.
’My dear lord Silverbridge,
’Mrs Montacute Jones is cut to the heart because
you have not been over to see her again, and she says
that it is lamentable to think that such a man as
Reginald Dobbes should have so much power over you.
‘Only twelve miles,’ she says, ’and
he knows that we are here!’ I told that you
knew Miss Boncassen was gone.
