Tom and Helena had a busy, prosperous season. Helena’s market at Newbridge and the Camp was such that she was obliged to send three carts a week with butter, eggs, vegetables, and flowers, and buy another donkey. Tom, too, had his hands full; the tide had turned, and they were both so much occupied with important matters that they entirely forgot the black horse who was enjoying a run on the bog. Tom had an old friend stationed at Newbridge, an officer in the Lancers, who made his way over to call, and though the distance was twelve Irish miles, for a reason best known to himself he returned repeatedly. One Sunday after lunch the Mahons and their guest walked down to the bog; it was the end of September, and there was an idea that it might hold a few packs of grouse. As they advanced over the springy turf, along a beaten track, then over a wobbly stick across a bog-hole, they descried, far away among the gorse and geese, a remarkably fine upstanding black horse. His attitude implied dignified expectancy, as he gazed in their direction.
“Hullo!” cried Tom. “Why, Helena—look at your purchase. I declare I scarcely know him!”
“All the better for his two months’ holiday—oh, I say!” as the black suddenly wheeled about, took a wide ditch in an easy stride, and galloped off with streaming tail.
“Not much the matter with that fellow—and can’t he jump!” exclaimed Captain Forde. “Your property, Miss Mahon?”
“Yes, and, do you know, I’d almost forgotten him.”
“I advise you not to do that—he looks like a chaser.”
“A chaser!” she repeated with a laugh. “I bought him out of a bread-cart ten weeks ago. I pitied him so much because he had so many miles to go every day, and he was so terribly lame. They were sending him to the Kennels. His price was thirty shillings—and Tom gave him a run here.”
“Good gracious! You are not serious? This is one of your Irish jokes.”
“I say, Helena, we’ll have him up and look at him,” said Tom; “Tony shall vet. him; he is great on horses.”
“All right—we will send down old Pat with a head-stall, and interview the Baker after tea.”