down to ignorance, then."

"That's better, my lady. I never set up as a scholar."

"Let me appeal to you, then. Have you done nothing to stop it?"

"Never knowed a word about it till this blessed morning, my lady," cried
the trainer, with a display of indignation. "Saucy young baggage! She
kep' it dark enough."

"Ha! Then you have some feeling for your child."

"Feeling, my lady! Course I have; and I'd ha' stopped it if I'd known
before it was too late."

Lady Lisle winced as if she had received a blow. "But, now--now," she
cried, "you will immediately take proceedings?"

"Bah! What can I do?"

"Oh, think, man, of the wrong it is doing me."

"Tchah! It's of no use to talk now, my lady. Pride's a very nice thing
in its way, but they say it must have a fall. Love and natur', my lady,
gets the better of us all. You and me understands what it is, and you
see now that you couldn't always have him tied to your apron-string."

"Man, have you no feeling?"

"Quite enough for my business, my lady."

"But I insist you shall stop it at once."

"Don't I tell you, my lady," cried the trainer, with a glance up at
number one, "that it's too late? She'll be having him hear her
directly," he added to himself. "There, chuck it up, my lady," he
continued, "and go home. This place on a race day ain't sootable for
you. Take my word, you'll soon get used to it."

"The man is a monster," groaned Lady Lisle, wringing her hands. "Man,
man," she cried, "you shock me. If you have no feeling or respect for
your child--"

"Me, my lady? Of course, I have. Why," added the trainer, "I like it."

"Wretched man! Such depravity!"

"Depravity be blowed, my lady! Here, I can put up with a good deal, but
you're pitching it too strong. Come, I won't get in a temper with you,
my lady, though I am horribly tried just now. Come, I'm speaking fair
as a man can speak; hadn't you better climb down?"

"Think of the scandal, man."

"My name's Simpkins, my lady, please. If your set may call it a
scandal, mine won't mind. As for me, I think it's a very good thing for
the girl."

"I can bear no more of this," muttered Lady Lisle, faintly. "It is too
much. Oh! man, man, I looked for help and sympathy from you; but in
your shameless ignorance you have done nothing but outrage my feelings."

"Very sorry, my lady; but you should have come and met me civil-like, as
the father of as pretty a lass as ever stepped. 'Stead