ee mighty men broke through the host, and brought water from the well
of Bethlehem. So Jordas only answered that he had promised to return,
and a trifle of snow improved the travelling.

"A willful man must have his way," said Mr. Jellicorse at last. "We can
not put him in the pound, Diana; but the least we can do is to provide
him for a coarse, cold journey. If I know anything of our country,
he will never see Scargate Hall to-night, but his blanket will be a
snowdrift. Give him one of our new whitneys to go behind his saddle, and
I will make him take two things. I am your legal adviser, Jordas, and
you are like all other clients. Upon the main issue, you cast me off;
but in small matters you must obey me."

The hardy dogman was touched with this unusual care for his welfare. At
home his services were accepted as a due, requiring little praise and
less of gratitude. It was his place to do this and that, and be thankful
for the privilege. But his comfort was left for himself to study; and if
he had studied it much, reproach would soon have been the chief reward.
It never would do, as his ladies said, to make too much of Jordas. He
would give himself airs, and think that people could not get on without
him.

Marmaduke looked fresh and bold when he came out of stable; he had eaten
with pleasure a good hot dinner, or supper perhaps he considered it,
liking to have his meals early, as horses generally do. And he neighed
and capered for the homeward road, though he knew how full it was of
hardships; for never yet looked horse through bridle, without at least
one eye resilient toward the charm of headstall. And now he had both
eyes fixed with legitimate aim in that direction; and what were a few
tiny atoms of snow to keep a big horse from his household?

Merrily, therefore, he set forth, with a sturdy rider on his back; his
clear neigh rang through the thick dull streets, and kind people came
to their white blurred windows, and exclaimed, as they glanced at the
party-colored horseman rushing away into the dreary depths, "Well,
rather him than me, thank God!"

"You keep the dog," Master Jordas had said to the hostler, before he
left the yard; "he is like a lamb, when you come to know him. I can't be
plagued with him to-night. Here's a half crown for his victuals; he eats
precious little for the size of him. A bullock's liver every other day,
and a pound and a half the between times. Don't be afeared of him. He
looks like