“A couple of inches too long behind the saddle,” said the Earl, disregarding this question.
“Very quick over his fences, my lord!” said Hickling.
“You run him down, Jem, and let his lordship see his paces!” recommended his uncle. “Meself, I’d say his middle-piece was a shade light — jest a shade!”
The Earl glanced at him. “You seem to know something about horses.”
“Brought up with them, in a manner of speaking, me lord!” said Mr. Leek promptly.
“Do you think you could handle my grays?”
Mr. Leek cast them a dubious look, but had no hesitation in asserting that he would back himself to the extent of a double finnup to do so.
“Well,” said the Earl, “Wickham cannot, so as I may need a little help you had better come with me in his stead.”
Hickling opened his mouth, and shut it again, as though thinking better of what he had been about to say. Mr. Leek’s expressionless eyes met the Earl’s rather quizzical ones with a blink. “Very pleased to go along with your lordship!” he said. “ And to lend a hand with them grays, if and when so desired!”
Wickham had not been admitted into Chard’s confidence, but he had a shrewd idea that Chard would by no means approve of the new arrangement. Blushingly conscious that it formed no part of the second groom’s duties to expostulate with his master, he yet plucked up enough courage to make the attempt. He was silenced, though not unkindly; and was left, ten minutes later, uneasily wondering what Chard would have to say to him when he returned from Grantham.