’It ‘s a wonder, to my mind,’ remarked the landlady, when she had placidly surveyed Mr. Raikes, ’how young gals can let some of you men-folk mislead ’em.’

She turned from him huffily, and addressed Evan: 

’The old gentleman is gone, sir.  He slept on a chair, breakfasted, and was off before eight.  He left word, as the child was born on his birthright, he’d provide for it, and pay the mother’s bill, unless you claimed the right.  I’m afraid he suspected—­what I never, never-no! but by what I’ve seen of you—­never will believe.  For you, I’d say, must be a gentleman, whatever your company.  She asks one favour of you, sir:—­for you to go and let her speak to you once before you go away for good.  She’s asleep now, and mustn’t be disturbed.  Will you do it, by-and-by?  Please to comfort the poor creature, sir.’

Evan consented.  I am afraid also it was the landlady’s flattering speech made him, without reckoning his means, add that the young mother and her child must be considered under his care, and their expenses charged to him.  The landlady was obliged to think him a wealthy as well as a noble youth, and admiringly curtsied.

Mr. John Raikes and Mr. Evan Harrington then strolled into the air, and through a long courtyard, with brewhouse and dairy on each side, and a pleasant smell of baking bread, and dogs winking in the sun, cats at the corners of doors, satisfied with life, and turkeys parading, and fowls, strutting cocks, that overset the dignity of Mr. Raikes by awakening his imitative propensities.  Certain white-capped women, who were washing in a tub, laughed, and one observed:  ’He’s for all the world like the little bantam cock stickin’ ‘self up in a crow against the Spaniar’.’  And this, and the landlady’s marked deference to Evan, induced Mr. Raikes contemptuously to glance at our national blindness to the true diamond, and worship of the mere plumes in which a person is dressed.

They passed a pretty flower-garden, and entering a smooth-shorn meadow, beheld the downs beautifully clear under sunlight and slowly-sailing images of cloud.  At the foot of the downs, on a plain of grass, stood a white booth topped by a flag, which signalled that on that spot Fallow field and Beckley were contending.

‘A singular old gentleman!  A very singular old gentleman, that!’ Raikes observed, following an idea that had been occupying him.  ’We did wrong to miss him.  We ought to have waylaid him in the morning.  Never miss a chance, Harrington.’

‘What chance?’ Evan inquired.

‘Those old gentlemen are very odd,’ Jack pursued, ’very strange.  He wouldn’t have judged me by my attire.  Admetus’ flocks I guard, yet am a God!  Dress is nothing to those old cocks.  He’s an eccentric.  I know it; I can see it.  He ’s a corrective of Cudford, who is abhorrent to my soul.  To give you an instance, now, of what those old boys will do—­I remember my father taking me, when I was quite a youngster,