her
home, Wilmot House, was scarce three miles across wood and field by our
plantation roads. I was a stout little fellow enough, and before I was
twelve I had learned to follow to hounds my grandfather's guests on my
pony; and Mr. Lloyd and Mr. Carvel when they shot on the duck points.
Ay, and what may surprise you, my dears, I was given a weak little
toddy off the noggin at night, while the gentlemen stretched their limbs
before the fire, or played at whist or loo Mr. Carvel would have no
milksop, so he said. But he early impressed upon me that moderation was
the mark of a true man, even as excess was that of a weak one.

And so it was no wonder that I frequently found my way to Wilmot House
alone. There I often stayed the whole day long, romping with Dolly at
games of our own invention, and many the time I was sent home after dark
by Mrs. Manners with Jim, the groom. About once in the week Mr. and Mrs.
Manners would bring Dorothy over for dinner or tea at the Hall. She grew
quickly--so quickly that I scarce realized--into a tall slip of a girl,
who could be wilful and cruel, laughing or forgiving, shy or impudent,
in a breath. She had as many moods as the sea. I have heard her
entertain Mr. Lloyd and Mr. Bordley and the ladies, and my grandfather,
by the hour, while I sat by silent and miserable, but proud of her all
the same. Boylike, I had grown to think of her as my possession, tho'
she gave me no reason whatever. I believe I had held my hand over fire
for her, at a word. And, indeed, I did many of her biddings to make me
wonder, now, that I was not killed. It used to please her, Ivie too, to
see me go the round of the windmill, tho' she would cry out after I left
the ground. And once, when it was turning faster than common and Ivie
not there to prevent, I near lost my hold at the top, and was thrown
at the bottom with such force that I lay stunned for a full minute. I
opened my eyes to find her bending over me with such a look of fright
and remorse upon her face as I shall never forget. Again, walking out on
the bowsprit of the 'Oriole' while she stood watching me from the dock,
I lost my balance and fell into the water. On another occasion I fought
Will Fotheringay, whose parents had come for a visit, because he dared
say he would marry her.

"She is to marry an earl," I cried, tho' I had thrashed another lad for
saying so. "Mr. Manners is to take her home when she is grown, to marry
her to an earl."

"At lea