Max Pemberton

“ He ought to be glad that I've got a pony who will do credit to the family."
"You must not speak of your uncle in that way," said I; "he does not like horse-racing because there are so many rogues and vagabonds who follow it. I confess, however, that the county meeting on Friday does not come properly under the designation of a horse-race. It should be quiet enough and orderly enough if it is anything like other meetings I have attended here."
"But uncle hates everything," said Jack unabashed. "He calls men who play 'footer' violent persons and rioters." ”

“ As I left he asked me to the gathering, an honour I had scarce looked for, since he was one of those who regard the mere knowledge of the classics as something a little better than playing on the flute, and distinctly inferior to the art of cooking.
"Come up thyself," said he, "for I shall look for thee to be at my hand. There's women folk to be present, and we're smartening up a bit. ”

“ As we walked the meadow-path and through the stumps of the corn, Wilfred following like a dog at my heels, Jack alternately throwing a hard ball at a cow and practising with a catapult upon miscellaneous wildfowl, the subject of the pony-race was raised again.
"I can't see what he objects to," said the lad, with a fine touch of philosophy. "What's the harm of a good gallop? ”

“ A labourer, carrying his coat upon his arm, met a child who had run out of one of the gabled cottages, and held her high in his arms; other children came trooping up the road from the infant school; a local politician spread his dinner upon the bench before the inn, and enjoyed three hearers and a can of ale. Presently, the church clock struck twelve, and Jack shut his book with a slam; but the other continued to read. The narrative held him too powerfully. His mind was at Ararat and not in Quinton. ”

“ There were palms, too, in the passages; and a coming and going of servants the like to which the Manor House had not known for a decade. I saw that the compelling influence of woman had already been busy with him; and as I walked through the park, many signs were there of the expectancy of social triumph. That Jonathan Hutton was to entertain Sir Hubert Hill and a couple of Colonial bishops to boot was indeed a thing to ring through the neighbourhood in song and story ”

“ I remarked, "there's to be some pony-galloping for the boys round about on Friday; Jack thinks he would like to try 'Creeper'——"
"Ha," said he sharply, "he thinks he would, does he? The devil is very busy with young souls just now, Mr. Wills. But we must flog it out of them—even as Solomon exhorted us."
The tone promised badly for Master Jack, and I took my leave hurriedly, crossing the park again to my cottage. It was clear that although "Creeper" was entered, he would not run; and I confess that a sporting instinct prompted me strongly to take the side of the lad. But how could I help him? ”

“ But the figures were now very near, and 1 could make out the form of Julia Hill, she dressed gaily in white with a gray cloak about her shoulders. The old man saw her at the same moment, and his voice of pleading passed from a roar to a husky muttering; while Jack, managing the improvised punt with lively skill, brought her up to the island; and we waited for the end in silence.
"Uncle," said Jack, holding out his hand, "sit down and don't excite yourself. You fellows, haul away, or she'll sink! Now!" ”

“ The education of the boys had been entrusted to me, some years before this September of which I write, by their uncle Jonathan Hutton, who owned the Manor House. He was not a popular man in the county, holding himself away from the many whom he despised; yet unable to establish, though coveting, intimacy with the few. The fact that he was a Quaker and at one time endeavoured to shout himself into heaven did not help him with the Church-folk ”

“ I asked.
"Because," said he, as if thinking deeply, "because I could swop wisdom for the pony race on Friday."
"You didn't tell me about any pony-race," I remarked. "I suppose you mean the steeplechases?"
"Yes, and there's a race open to all owners of ponies within a radius of twelve miles of Quinton—weight for age and fillies to carry three pounds less."
"But your uncle would never hear of it; he detests horse-racing. Who put the idea into your head? " ”