“Oh, is it? Well, let’s make a bank. It’ll do to pay old Lomax and lots of things.”
Chapter Sixteen.
My mother and my uncle came over to see me twice during their stay at Hastings, and during one of the visits my uncle spoke to the Doctor about the drill-master, and, after expressing a wish that I should pay attention to that part of my studies, with fencing, asked if this instructor had been in the foot or horse.
“Oh, he was in the cavalry, uncle,” I said.
“Good; then, if Doctor Browne does not object, I should like him to give you a few preliminary lessons in riding, so as to get a military seat while you are young, boy.”
The Doctor expressed his willingness, but he said with a slight cough,—
“Would not a horse be necessary, or a pony?”
“Well, yes,” said my uncle dryly, “I think it would, sir; but that difficulty will be got over. Sir Hawkhurst Rye has offered the boy the use of a stout cob. One of the grooms will bring it over two or three times a week; and, if you would allow me, I should like to have a few words with the old sergeant.”