“By Jove!” said Liftore scornfully.
“You fancy yourself the only man that can ride!”
“It’s nothing to me, my lord, if you break
your neck; but I am bound to tell you I do not think
your lordship will sit my mare. Stoat can’t;
and I can only because I know her as well as my own
palm.”
The young earl made no answer and they rode on—Malcolm
nearer than his lordship liked.
“I can’t think, Florimel,” he said,
“why you should want that fellow about you again.
He is not only very awkward, but insolent as well.”
“I should call it straightforward,” returned
Florimel.
“My dear Lady Lossie! See how close he
is riding to us now.”
“He is anxious, I daresay, as to your Lordship’s
behaviour. He is like some dogs that are a little
too careful of their mistresses— touchy
as to how they are addressed—not a bad fault
in dog—or groom either. He saved my
life once, and he was a great favourite with my father:
I won’t hear anything against him.”
“But for your own sake—just consider:—what
will people say if you show any preference for a man
like that?” said Liftore, who had already become
jealous of the man who in his heart he feared could
ride better than himself.
“My lord!” exclaimed Florimel, with a
mingling of surprise and indignation in her voice,
and suddenly quickening .her pace, dropped him behind.
Malcolm was after her so instantly that it brought
him abreast of Liftore.
“Keep your own place,” said his lordship,
with stern rebuke.
“I keep my place to my mistress,” returned
Malcolm.
Liftore looked at him as it he would strike him.
But he thought better of it apparently, and rode after
Florimel.
By the time he had put up Kelpie, Malcolm found that
his only chance of seeing Blue Peter before he left
London, lay in going direct to the wharf. On
his road he reflected on what had just passed, and
was not altogether pleased with himself. He had
nearly lost his temper with Liftore; and if he should
act in any way unbefitting the position he had assumed,
from the duties of which he was in no degree exonerated
by the fact that he had assumed it for a purpose,
it would not only be a failure in himself, but an impediment
perhaps insurmountable in the path of his service.
To attract attention was almost to insure frustration.
When he reached the wharf he found they had nearly
got her freight on board the smack. Blue Peter
stood on the forecastle. He went to him and explained
how it was that he had been unable to join him sooner.
“I didna ken ye,” said Blue Peter, “in
sic playactor kin’ o’ claes.”
“Nobody in London would look at me twice now.
But you remember how we were stared at when first
we came,” said Malcolm.
“Ow ay!” returned Peter with almost a
groan; “there’s a sair cheenge past upo’
you, but I’m gauin’ hame to the auld w’y
o’ things. The herrin’ ‘ll
be aye to the fore, I’m thinkin’; an’
gien we getna a harbour we’ll get a h’aven.”
