there, in the open, the storm came down, in rolling thunder
and lashing rain. Tall, shifting, white columns chased each other madly
across the bronze expanse of the moorland. Chifney, mindful of his
charge, hurried Dickie into a greatcoat, buttoned it carefully round
him, offered to drive, almost insisted on doing so. But the boy refused
curtly. He welcomed the stinging rain, the swirling wind, the swift
glare of lightning, the ache and strain of holding the pulling horses.
The violence of it all heated his blood as with the stern passion of
battle. And under the influence of that passion his humour changed from
agonised pity to a fierce determination of conquest. He would fight, he
would come through, he would win, he would slay dragons.
Prometheus-like he would defy the gods. Again his thought was
unformulated, little more than the push of young, untamed energy
impatient of opposition. But that he could face this wild mood of
nature and control and guide these high-mettled, headstrong horses gave
him coolness and self-confidence. It yielded him assurance that there
was, after all, an immensity of distance between himself and all caged,
outworn creatures, and that the horrible example of deformity upon the
brazen-faced girl's show-board had really nothing to do with him.
Dickie's last humour was less noble than his first, it is to be feared.
But in all healthy natures, in all those in whom the love of beauty is
keen, there must be in youth strong repudiation of the brotherhood of
suffering. Time will teach a finer and deeper lesson to those that have
faith and courage to receive it; yet it is well the young should defy
sorrow, hate suffering, gallantly, however hopelessly, fight.

And the warlike instinct remained by Dickie all that evening. He was
determined to assert himself, to measure his power, to obtain. While
Winter was helping him dress for dinner he gave orders that his chair
should be placed at the bottom of the table.

"But the colonel sits there, Sir Richard."

Dickie's face did not give in the least.

"He has sat there," he answered rather shortly. "But I have spoken to
her ladyship, and in future he will sit by her. I'll go down early,
Winter. I prefer being in my place when the others come in."

It must be added that Ormiston accepted his deposition in the best
possible spirit, patting the boy on the shoulder as he passed him.

"Quite right, old chap. I like to see you there. Claim your own, and
k