The earl and the painter knew each other: as they drew near, the
painter lifted his hat, and the earl nodded.
"You owe Mr Lenorme some acknowledgment, my lord, for taking charge
of me after your sudden desertion," said Florimel. "Why did you
gallop off in such a mad fashion?"
"I am sorry," began Liftore a little embarrassed.
"Oh! don't trouble yourself to apologise," said Florimel. "I have
always understood that great horsemen find a horse more interesting
than a lady. It is a mark of their breed, I am told."
She knew that Liftore would not be ready to confess he could not
hold his hack.
"If it hadn't been for Mr Lenorme," she added, "I should have
been left without a squire, subject to any whim of my four footed
servant here."
As she spoke she patted the neck of her horse. The earl, on his
side, had been looking the painter's horse up and down with a would
be humorous expression of criticism.
"I beg your pardon, marchioness," he replied; "but you pulled up
so quickly that we shot past you. I thought you were close behind,
and preferred following.--Seen his best days, eh, Lenorme?" he
concluded, willing to change the subject.
"I fancy he doesn't think so," returned the painter. "I bought him
out of a butterman's cart, three months ago. He's been coming to
himself ever since.
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