Page:Marriott Watson--Galloping Dick.djvu/42

 the wind somewhat reduced my fervour, and where I was rolling three-parts-free in liquor ten minutes back, I was now mainly sobered and continent of all my senses. I knew the land by rote, and we proceeded easily by lanes and windings, through a grievous slush of snow, until, at the end of half an hour, we came out on the ridge of the hill (I knew it of old) which lies in the rear of my Lord Petersham’s castle.

At the cross-roads the Bishop reined in his horse, and turned to me. “I think, Ryder,” said he, but courteously, “that we shall be well quit of each other here. I make a dull companion for youth, and you have, doubtless, a long ride before you.”

“Dull,” says, I “be damned! I’ll wager upon you before all the bucks of town.”

The Bishop smiled. “So rich a testimony from yourself, Ryder,” he observed, “should go far to keep me in repute.”

“You may have it and welcome, my lord,” I answered. “And here,” I added, as a noise of wheels came up the hill, “no doubt you will find some friends with whom I may leave you.”