thing," said Fred Pepper. "We only want just
something to do." And Ralph, when at the end of the week he had lost
only a matter of fifteen pounds, congratulated himself on having
begun his better life. Cox and Fred Pepper, who divided the trifle
between them, laughed at the bagatelle.

But before he left the Moonbeam things had assumed a shape which,
when looked at all round, was not altogether pleasant to him. Before
he had been three days at the place he received a letter from his
lawyer, telling him that his uncle had given his formal assent to the
purchase, and had offered to pay the stipulated sum as soon as Ralph
would be willing to receive it. As to any further sum that might be
forthcoming, a valuer should be agreed upon at once. The actual deed
of sale and transfer would be ready by the middle of November; and
the lawyer advised Ralph to postpone his acceptance of the money till
that deed should have been executed. It was evident from the letter
that there was no need on his part to hurry back to town. This letter
he found waiting for him on his return one day from hunting. There
had been a pretty run, very fast, with a kill, as there will be
sometimes in cub-hunting in October,--though as a rule, of all
sports, cub-hunting is the sorriest. Ralph had ridden his favourite
horse Brag, and Mr. Pepper had taken out,--just to try him,--a little
animal of his that he had bought, as he said, quite at haphazard. He
knew nothing about him, and was rather afraid that he had been done.
But the little horse seemed to have a dash of pace about him, and in
the evening there was some talk of the animal. Fred Pepper thought
that the little horse was faster than Brag. Fred Pepper never praised
his own horses loudly; and when Brag's merits were chaunted, said
that perhaps Ralph was right. Would Ralph throw his leg over the
little horse on Friday and try him? On the Friday Ralph did throw his
leg over the little horse, and there was another burst. Ralph was
obliged to confess, as they came home together in the afternoon, that
he had never been better carried. "I can see what he is now," said
Fred Pepper;--"he is one of those little horses that one don't get
every day. He's up to a stone over my weight, too." Now Ralph and
Fred Pepper each rode thirteen stone and a half.

On that day they dined together, and there was much talk as to the
future prospects of the men. Not that Fred Pepper said anything of
his future prospects. No