Part 39 (1/2)
MARGOT: ”You are absolutely right, dear mamma, and that is exactly what I have said to him more than once But you need not worry, for no one saw us Let's go to bed, darling, I'hly inconsequent about ambler; he toldwas to sell his horses and go to India to shoot big ga his creditors
When Peter went to India I was very unhappy, but to please ood-bye and not write to him for a year, a promise which was faithfully kept
While he ay, a youngHe never proposed, he only declared himself
I liked hihtly onhome in the dark, that he was sure I must be in love with somebody else I said that it did not at all follow and that, if he ise he would stop talking about love and go and buy hioing in a week to hunt with Lord Manners We were staying together at Cholmondeley Castle, in Cheshi+re, with my beloved friend, Winifred Cholmondeley, [Footnote: The Marchioness of Cholhe would lend me ”two of the best that money could buy” to take to Melton, where he proposed shortly to follow me
When he arrived at Tattersalls there were several studs of well- known horses being sold: Jack Trotter's, Sir Willia the latter was a faed to Peter Flower; and my friend determined he would buy it for me Some one said to him:
”I don't advise you to buy that horse, as you won't be able to ride it!”
(The felloho related this to me added, ”As you know, Miss Tennant, this is the only certain way by which you can sell any horse”)
Another ht; when it belonged to Flower I saw Miss Margot going like a bird on it ”
MY FRIEND: ”Did Miss Tennant ride Flower's horses?”
At this the other fellow said:
”Why, my dear man, where HAVE you lived! ”
Some months after I had ridden Jack Madden and h Leicestershi+re, my friend came to see ive him away over a secret which he intended to tell me
After I had taken my sole to be put in the bankruptcy court and turned out of every club in London; so I went to Sam Lewis and paid his debt, but I don't want him to know about it and he never need, unless you tell him”
MARGOT: ”What does he owe? And whom does he owe it to?”
MY FRIEND: ”He owes ten thousand pounds, but I'm not at liberty to tell you who it's to; he is a friend of ood fellow I can assure you that he has waited longer than most people would for Flower to pay hi”
MARGOT: ”Is Peter Flower a friend of yours?”
MY FRIEND: ”I don't know hiht and have never spoken to him in my life, but he's the h for me”
When the year was up and Peter--for all I kneas still in India, I had ht, I would never, under any circumstances, renewwith the Manners, as usual, and findingis always a stupid thing to do; horses that have never put a foot wrong generally refuse the s of the day you end by going through the gate, which you had better have done at first
I had a iven to me by my fiance, as the finest ti the people at theer, juusted Peter would have been at ood spirits So, however,the fence besidespirits and told erness how completely he had turned over a new leaf and never intended doing this, that or the other again, as far thehad happened to him that ever happened to any one
”I'ie! By heavens I a you is SO GREAT that I won't allude to the gate, or Molly Bawn, or you, or any thing ugly! Let us enjoy ourselves for once; and for God's sake don't scold lad to see me? Let me look at you! Which do you love best, Molly Bawn or me? Don't answer but listen”
He then proceeded to tell me how his debts had been paid by Sah an unknown benefactor and how he had begged Lewis to tell who it was, but that he had refused, having taken his oath never to reveal the na:
”Hoonderful! But you'll have to pay him back, Peter, won't you?”
PETER: ”Oh, indeed! Then perhaps you can tell me who it is ”