y's horse."

"Lily's horse? What about her horse? I hope he's not vicious?"

"She is riding every day with your niece," said the squire, thinking
it best to stick to his own point.

"It will do her all the good in the world," said Mrs. Thorne.

"Very likely. I don't doubt it. I do not in the least disapprove her
riding. But--"

"But what, Mr. Dale?"

"I should be so much obliged if I might be allowed to pay the
livery-stable keeper's bill."

"Oh, laws a' mercy."

"I daresay it may sound odd, but as I have a fancy about it, I'm sure
you'll gratify me."

"Of course I will. I'll remember it. I'll make it all right with
Bernard. Bernard and I have no end of accounts,--or shall have before
long,--and we'll make an item of it. Then you can arrange with
Bernard afterwards."

Mr. Dale as he got up to go away felt that he was beaten, but he did
not know how to carry the battle any further on that occasion. He
could not take out his purse and put down the cost of the horse on
the table. "I will then speak to my nephew about it," he said, very
gravely, as he went away. And he did speak to his nephew about it,
and even wrote to him more than once. But it was all to no purpose.
Mr. Potts could not be induced to give a separate bill, and,--so said
Bernard,--swore at last that he would furnish no account to anybody
for horses that went to Mrs. Thorne's door except to Mrs. Thorne
herself.

That night Lily took leave of her uncle and remained at Mrs. Thorne's
house. As things were now arranged she would, no doubt, be in London
when John Eames returned. If he should find her in town--and she told
herself that if she was in town he certainly would find her,--he
would, doubtless, repeat to her the offer he had so often made
before. She never ventured to tell herself that she doubted as to the
answer to be made to him. The two letters were written in the book,
and must remain there. But she felt that she would have had more
courage for persistency down at Allington than she would be able to
summon to her assistance up in London. She knew she would be weak,
should she be found by him alone in Mrs. Thorne's drawing-room. It
would be better for her to make some excuse and go home. She was
resolved that she would not become his wife. She could not extricate
herself from the dominion of a feeling which she believed to be love
for another man. She had given a solemn promise both to her mother
and to John Eames that she would not m