CHAPTER XIV.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 353, 23 March 1889, Page 3

CHAPTER XIV.

HOME AT LAST. A pair of splendid, highly-bitted, headtossing horses, harnessed to a somewhat gaudily-painted mail phaeton, stood at the f r ont door, champing at their mouth-pieces, stamping at the smoothly-rolled gravel, and making their steel pole-chains jingle as they impatiently rubbed blinkers. Mr Denver mounted on to the box seat, and took the reins and the whip in his iiand. Dulcie jumped up as quickly as her aching bones would permit of, for by this time she was feeling stiff all over, and another second found her seated in such a luxurious, soft-cushioned equipage as she had never driven in before, more particularly when drawn by two such magnificent horses,

Bi'yanfc and May were well nigh faultless specimens of their class. In colour, they ' were a bright rich bay, with black points, standing on short, flat legs and good feet, and they bowled over the ground with that straight and dashing shoulder-action so admirable and yet, so seldom seen. Dulcio's eyes began to sparklo and her face to beam. There was some pleasure in sitting behind such free-going animals as these, and in watching tho small, erect, pointed ears, the gioshy necks, and firm crests. Hers was a tell-tale countenance, apt to betray every passing emotion, and Mr Denver,- when he glanced at it, saw that she was plensod. 'Are you fond of driving, Miss Dulcie ?' he asked, casually, taking a slight pull at ) May, who threatened to break into a canter. ' Oh, yes ! this sort of driving, 1 she answered, enthusiastically. Once again her sincere admiration pleased him and appealed to his vanity. ' Yes,' -he remarked, complacently, 'I flatter myself Bryant and May are a very tidy pair as carriage-horses go. They move well, don't they ?* administering an unnecessary flick of the whip as a lady in a pony-trap passed by. "They can do twelve miles an hour without turning a hair.' v They are the most beautiful creatures I have ever seeu,' returned Dulcie. : I don't wonder you are proud of them.' 'Ah!' (approvingly). 'I see that you are fond of horses. So am I, to a certain extent.' ' Are you V' thinking perhaps, after all, they might find some bond of sympathy which might servo to lighten the burden of fragmentary conversation. 'I love them.' ' Love them !' he echoed, with a lausrh. 'That's rather an enthusiastic expression, is it not? Or is your heart a very capacious one, ■ capable of cherishing a huge affection for Mister Bob and the animal world at large ?' ' I do not see how the state of my heart can possibly affect you,' she said warmly, ' and I shall feel greatly obliged if you will desist from making use of Mr Mornington's name.' Mr Denver made no immediate reply, but lib up a cigar and began puffing away at it vigorously. Just as he liked driving high-mottled horses, so did he like a high-mettled woman, considering; tho spirit | in either purposely made to be crushed and conquered by man. Woman and horses \ were — in his opinion — weaker vessels, and | as such born to submit. They drove on some way in silence, \ Dulcie keeping her eyes studiously fixed on the horses' eais, Mr .Denver finding solace in the fumes, of. a long Havana, and beginning for the ikst time to'feo} jqsta trifle nonplussed in his c.onvers.ationat efforts. He knew lots of girls who at that very moment. would 'have given i,their ' to be driving alone with him, and yet .here was this little countiy miss who snapped up his words and found fault with his jokes, instead of greeting them heartily and cheerily i He felt piqued and slightly — but only very slightly — discouraged. Meanwhile he was paying very little attention to his horses, who, finding the reins left to flap loosely on their backs, tore along at a great pace. The road up till now had been beautifully level, and the cool evening breeze induced a certain gaiety in the hearts of Bryant and May. Sud denly, as they turned. sharply round the corner, they came upon an old dingy whites sow, who, with narrow sides and thoifc curly tail, sought a lew mouthfuls of green grass by the roadside, followed by a dozen lively little sucklings. At the sight of this grunting and contented mother, May, the near animal, startled by so unexpected an apparition, shied, violently diagging Bryanfc after her, and almost piecipitated thq phaeton into a deep ditch bordering the hedge- row. A moment's suspense ensued : then both horses broke into a gallop, and Dulcie, believing they were running away, grasped the rail at her side with both hands. Otherwise, she sat perfectly still, and never uttered a word, though as the carriage flew down the road, she just glanced once at her companion's countenance. It was sternly set, the eyebrows met in a heavy frown, and the eyes beneath them flashed with such a fierce and angry light, that involuntarily Dulcie found herself recalling the story of the broken china. She could fancy how his face had worn a. similar expression when poor Mrs Denver dropped the bowl to the ground, and how his ruddy complexion had changed into a passionate purple, just as it had done now on very slight provocation. Meanwhile. Mr Denver stood up and hauled at the horses with all his might. The cause of alarm vanished, they quickly settled down again into a trot. Then, and not till then, did he raise his whip, and administered such a severe castigation to the mare a& left the unfortunate animal trembling .from head to foot, and bathed in perspiratiod. Dulcie regarded his operation with disgusted indignation. Poor May's misdemeanour had only been a trivial one ; and she could not comprehend so great a, punishment being inflicted for so slight a cause. ' Oh, pray don't whip the poor creature any more,' she begged, imploringly. ' Nearly every horse dislikes the sight of pigs on a roadside. • Please don't be angry with May.' ' Damn the, brute !' he muttered through his clenched teeth, giving a vicious jag ac the animal's mouth which cut the sensitive corners, making them bleed, and causing her to dance afresh with pain. After this unpleasant little episode, her companion inspired her with such positive repugnance that Dulcie felt truly thankful when they arrived at Milnacot Lodge, before the door of which abode they pulled up in a style calculated to impress the inmates.