be very kind of you.'

Mr Peasemarsh put his hands in his pockets and laughed, and they
did not like the way he did it. Then he shouted 'Willum!'

A stooping ostler appeared in a stable door.

'Here, Willum, come and look at this 'ere young dook! Wants to buy
the whole stud, lock, stock, and bar'l. And ain't got tuppence in
his pocket to bless hisself with, I'll go bail!'

Willum's eyes followed his master's pointing thumb with
contemptuous interest.

'Do 'e, for sure?' he said.

But Robert spoke, though both the girls were now pulling at his
jacket and begging him to 'come along'. He spoke, and he was very
angry; he said:

'I'm not a young duke, and I never pretended to be. And as for
tuppence - what do you call this?' And before the others could
stop him he had pulled out two fat handfuls of shining guineas, and
held them out for Mr Peasemarsh to look at. He did look. He
snatched one up in his finger and thumb. He bit it, and Jane
expected him to say, 'The best horse in my stables is at your
service.' But the others knew better. Still it was a blow, even
to the most desponding, when he said shortly:

'Willum, shut the yard doors,' and Willum grinned and went to shut