FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135  
136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   >>   >|  
ul." "Why, of course, my dear chap. But how about the fitness of parting with that pony just before the tournament? As captain of the team, do you think you are acting quite fairly by the Regiment?" The shot told. Among soldiers of the best sort the Regiment is apt to be a fetish, and to Desmond the lightest imputation of disregard for its welfare was intolerable. "Is that how the other fellows look at it?" he asked, a troubled note in his voice. "Well, if they do, one can hardly blame them. They naturally want to know what you mean to do about the tournament after you have let your best pony go? I take it for granted that you have some sort of plan in your head." "Yes. I am counting on you to lend me Esmeralda. It's only the 6th now; and if I train her for all I'm worth between this and the 20th, I can get her up to the scratch." Paul's answering smile was oddly compact of tenderness and humour. "So that's your notion? You'll deign to make use of me so far? Upon my soul, Theo, you deserve that I should refuse, since you won't give me the satisfaction of doing what would be far more to the purpose." Desmond looked his friend steadily in the eyes. "You'll not refuse, though," he said quietly, and Paul shook his head. By way of thanks, Theo laid his hand impulsively upon Wyndham's arm. "I'm sure you understand, dear old man, that it's not easy or pleasant for me to part with Diamond, or to shut you out and refuse your help; but I can't endure that the rest of them should think me slack or careless of their interests." "They know you far too well to think anything of the sort. By the way, what arrangements are you making for Lahore?" "None at all. Honor will go, I daresay; and I shall run down for the polo. But fifteen days' leave is out of the question." Paul turned sharply in his saddle. "Now, look here, Theo--you're going too far. I make no offer this time. I simply insist!" Desmond hesitated. The thought of Evelyn was knocking at his heart. "You know I hate accepting that sort of thing," he objected, "even from you." Wyndham laughed. "That's your peculiar form of selfishness, my dear chap. You want to keep the monopoly of giving in your own hands. Very wholesome for you to have the tables turned. Besides," urged the diplomatist, boldly laying down his trump card, "it would be a great disappointment to your wife not to go down with us all and see the matches." "Yes. That's jus
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135  
136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Desmond
 

refuse

 

tournament

 
turned
 

Wyndham

 

Regiment

 

sharply

 

Lahore

 

making

 

saddle


arrangements

 
fifteen
 

question

 
daresay
 
careless
 

pleasant

 

fetish

 

understand

 

Diamond

 

interests


endure

 

soldiers

 

parting

 

tables

 

Besides

 
diplomatist
 

wholesome

 

monopoly

 

giving

 

boldly


laying

 

matches

 
disappointment
 

selfishness

 

insist

 

hesitated

 

thought

 

Evelyn

 

simply

 

knocking


laughed
 
peculiar
 

objected

 

accepting

 

Esmeralda

 
counting
 

welfare

 
intolerable
 
fellows
 

troubled