The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 90: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

84 THE KING OF THE SCHOOL; OR, WHO WILL WIN? Captain Robinson, so far as could be learnt, had left the town; at all events nothing was seen of him, | To the great surprise of every one, Baynes took to riding, and was, with his friend Crawley, frequently seen | cantering across the open downg in the neighbourhood of JBallsbury.. they did not get their steeds at the same place as the other boys—at the “ Red Lion.” ‘reddy Webber, too, took to the same kind of exercise, though in a mild way, for he had first of all to master the rudiments of riding, while the | others were tolerably practised horse- men. | To all this Doctor Whackley could not, and did not, object. Though anything but a © musemur Christian” himself, he always en- couraged his pupils in athletic sports of all kinds during the hours allotted to recreation, and very much disliked to see boys reading when they ought to have been playing. One day, when Marsham, the Earl of Pembridge, Charlie’ Fitzgerald, and one or two others. had gone out for their ‘customary canter, Freddy Web- ber approached the King of the School. “Don’t you like riding, Egerton?” he asked, __ “ Very much indeed, Webber. There is hardly anything I like better.” “JT ‘think I shail like it; ‘but, you know, I was never on a horse’s back - till this half, whereas you, I dare say, have had a pony ever since you were too heavy to ride the house dog. “You are right, Freddy.’ But as I can’t see any prospect of being able to keep a horse for some years to come, I mean to give up riding; it only makes me long for what I cannot possess,” “ But you can hire a horse.” . * Yes—for a half-a-guinea. Really, Freddy, I cannot afford to pay ten and #)xpence for an afternoon’s amusement. {am poor now you must remember.” “T wish’ you would come out, ‘old. fellow. I know a place where we can One | thing, however, was soon discovered, | get very good horses indeed for about half the ‘ Red Lion’ price.” Egerton did not require much coax- ing, but speedily was on his way to the stables patronized by Freddy. _ They were situated in rather an out-- of-the-way back street, but that was their only fault; so far as horseflesh was concerned, Freddy vowed they were quite equal to the “ Red Lion.” During the walk, the conversation turned upon Baynes, who had that morning shown some symptoms of a disposition to make another attempt to raise himself to the supremacy. “T shall have to take the conceit out of him again,” said Frank. I will not allow him to illtreat smaller boys.” “ Just as he had spoken, they turned into the stable-yard, and were very much surprised to find Baynes standing ' close to the gate. From the grim, satirical sneer, on his ‘ countenance it was quite evident that he had overheard the last words of Egerton’s speech. He noticed the new comers with a slight nod, and then began speaking to one of the grooms. ‘Frank Egerton and Freddy Webber at once went up to Mr. Martingale, the proprietor. | “ Good morning; can I have a horse to day?” said Freddy. “ Yes, sir; I’ve got your favourite in,’ 3 “ My friend here requires a mount.” “ Hem, that’s rather awkward. I’m rather short of ’osses to-day, and that gentleman,” he ‘pointed to Baynes, _| “has just picked out the best bit o’ ‘stuff I had.- T’ll-go and see though.” He entered the stables, and just at the door Baynes joined. — “So this is where Baynes comes?” observed Frank, os “IT wonder how much he is in debt here?” queried Freddy: “I-feel pretty certain he is not very regular in paying.” At this moment the stable-keeper re-appeared, and Frank heard him say— a COMM A) DOO (S(O) mn