"You'll come down and take your place at the table. It don't matter in the least whether ye eat or not."
Tilly felt herself sore and beaten and bruised. She had met her master in Malachi and could not get rid of him. In the end she put on a neat white frock and went downstairs and took her place at the long table. There was a huge sirloin of beef, and new potatoes and peas, and quantities of raspberries and cream on the sideboard. Altogether it was a refreshing and tempting repast and not one she was likely to get in her own poor home.
Malachi deliberately seated himself beside her. He pretended to be very attentive to her. Margot was openly affectionate and asked eagerly how she had enjoyed her ride.
"Oh, to be sure, she is a wonder, no less," said Malachi, "but don't bother her with talking too much till she has got a little food inside her. I didn't know she was one of those celebrated Rayneses. Why they can ride a bear, a bull, a cow, anything! She let it all out to me to-day when she was scampering so gaily on Starlight."
"I never heard of any Raynes who could ride," said The Desmond.
"You've got an ugly scratch on your cheek," said Norah. "How did ye come by that, Till?"
"Didn't I say, let her eat her meal in quiet!" said Malachi. "A gurrl, even though she is a Raynes, can't take it out of a thoroughbred when he's as fresh as Starlight was this morning. Now eat, Till, eat."
He piled her plate with provisions and The Desmond did not trouble himself to look at her again.
"You're a good, a very good little girl," said Malachi. "You're a true Raynes, that is what you are. Now, swallow these peas and get ready for the raspberries and cream."
Margot looked on in a puzzled way. She felt sure that there was something behind the scenes which she would know about later on. Malachi never put on that kind of look for nothing. At last the meal came to an end, and just at its close Mr. Flannigan appeared on the scene.