“Ah, those mothers have such an advantage over their sons,” said Lady Tyrrell.

“I determined I would never go near her again after that,” said Mrs. Duncombe.  “Bob goes; he is really fond of her; but I knew we should keep the peace better apart.  I let her have the children now and then, when it is convenient, and oddly enough they like it; but I shall soon have to stop that, for I won’t have them think me a reprobate; and she has thought me ten times worse ever since I found out that I had brains and could use them.”

“Quite true,” said Camilla; “there’s no peacemaker like absence.”

“The only pity is that Swanslea is no further off,” returned Bessie.

And so it was that Cecil, backed by her two counsellors, held her purpose, and Raymond sadly spoke of the plan of separation to Julius.  Both thought Mrs. Poynsett’s own plan the best, though they could not bear the idea of her leaving her own house.  Raymond was much displeased.

“At least,” he said, “there is a reprieve till this frantic fortnight is over.  I envy your exemption from the turmoil.”

“I wish you would exempt yourself from the races,” said Julius.  “The mischief they have done in these villages is incalculable!  The very men-servants are solicited to put into sweepstakes, whenever they go into Wil’sbro’; and only this morning Mrs. Hornblower has been to me about her son.”

“I thought he was the great feather in Herbert Bowater’s cap.”

“Showing the direction of the wind only too well.  Since Herbert has been infected with the general insanity, poor Harry Hornblower has lapsed into his old ways, and is always hanging about the ’Three Pigeons’ with some of the swarm of locusts who have come down already to brawl round the training stables.  This has come to Truelove’s ears, and he has notice of dismissal.  At the mother’s desire I spoke to Truelove, but he told me that at last year’s races the lad had gambled at a great rate, and had only been saved from dishonesty by detection in time.  He was so penitent that Truelove gave him another trial, on condition that he kept out of temptation; but now he has gone back to it, Mr. Truelove thinks it the only way of saving him from some fresh act of dishonesty.  ’It is all up with them,’ he says, ‘when once they take that turn.’”

“You need not speak as if I were accountable for all the blackguardism.”

“Every man is accountable who lends his name and position to bolster up a field of vice.”

“Come, come, Julius.  Remember what men have been on the turf.”

“If those men had withheld their support, fashion would not have led so many to their ruin.”

“Hundreds are present without damage.  It is a hearty out-of-doors country amusement, and one of the few general holidays that bring all ranks together.”

“You speak of racing as it has been or might be in some golden age,” said Julius.  “Of course there is no harm in trying one horse’s speed against another; but look at the facts and say whether it is right to support an amusement that becomes such an occasion of evil.”