but found that Gilbert had
already gone into the house.

"That's a mighty foine lad, that Gilbert," said John.

"Yes, he's a clever fellow," responded Jasper, not very
enthusiastically.

"He's as smart as a steel-trap," said John, earnestly.

"I didn't know steel-traps were very smart," said Jasper,
sarcastically.

He felt instinctively that John considered Gilbert smarter than
himself, and his self-conceit was so great that this troubled him.

"Wait till you get into one," said John, laughing. "If you'd get your
little finger into one of them things, you'd find it was too smart for
ye."

"What did Gilbert have to say to you?"

But John was too smart to be pumped.

"Nothing much," he answered. "He says the ugly brute won't give no more
trouble."

"Do you think so yourself?"

"He won't trouble Mr. Gilbert."

"Will he trouble anybody else?"

"Maybe not. He's had a good lesson."

"I wonder whether Gilbert told him what I said," thought Jasper. He
didn't like to ask, for, in so doing, he would betray himself. After a
little pause he walked back to the house; but he did not see Gilbert
for some time, for the latter was still in his chamber.

When they met at supper, Mr. Grey said:

"I ought to apologize to you, Gilbert, for trusting you to such a
horse; but he has never cut up such pranks before, and I did not
realize the danger to which I was exposing you. From what Jasper says,
you must have been in peril."

"I suppose I should have been, sir, if I had not been so accustomed to
horses; but I have ridden a great deal, though I don't think I ever had
such a sharp contest before."

"You had better ride Sidney to-morrow--I don't want you to run any more
risk."

"Thank you, sir; but I am not afraid. Bucephalus has had a lesson, and
won't try to master me again. With your permission, I will try him
again, and hope to have him wholly subdued before I go."

"I shall be glad to have him subjugated, I confess, as it will greatly
enhance his value; but I don't want you to run any further risk."

"The danger is quite over, Mr. Grey."

This conversation, and the regret frankly expressed by his uncle, did
considerable to put to rest the suspicion that had been excited in
Gilbert's mind. It did look strange, to be sure, that Jasper should
have made a false claim to have ridden Bucephalus, when he hadn't done
so; but possibly this was because he did not like to have it supposed
that he was inferior in courag