“I think,� said Elizabeth, after an awkward pause, and expressing the first idea that came into her mind, “it is the last race I will ever consent to let Hilary ride. I don’t think it does boys any good to interest them in such things.�
Here was an opportunity for Skelton to hit back for Blair’s sneer at Lewis Pryor when the match was first arranged.
“If you have the slightest objection to it,� he said blandly, “speak only one word and it is off. I need not say to you that I should regard the forfeit as nothing, and even give up the pleasure of seeing my horse matched against Mr. Blair’s, rather than give you one moment’s pain.�
“Ah, no,� cried Elizabeth—she had taken fire at Skelton’s tone, and hastened to redeem herself from the humiliation of trying to get out of it.
Blair simply glared at her. He thought Elizabeth had lost her senses; and before she could utter another word, he said, with a kind of savage coolness: “Certainly not. But if you think that your—young ward, is he—?�
“Lewis Pryor is not my ward, he is Mr. Bulstrode’s,� responded Skelton, without the slightest change of tone. But there was a flush rising in his dark face. Blair managed to convey, subtly, a contempt of the boy, which was to Skelton the most infuriating thing under heaven.
“Very well, then, whatever he is; if you feel any doubts of his ability to manage a horse—�
“I don’t feel the slightest doubt,� answered Skelton, the flush mounting higher and showing dully through his olive skin. “It is a pity that this young gentleman should have started the one subject that we cannot discuss. It is difficult to teach a boy tact—impossible, almost, for when they are tactful it is born with them.�
This, delivered in Skelton’s graceful manner, left the impression upon the mind of Blair and his wife that Skelton had very artfully called their boy a lout. However, he then turned his attention to little Mary, the childish image of her mother. Mary answered his questions correctly and demurely, and presently startled them by asking when Mr. Lewis Pryor was coming over to give her a ride on his pony.
The child had met him riding about the roads and at church, and they had struck up an acquaintance, with the result of this promise. But as Lewis had never been to Newington, and, in fact, had never been asked, this increased the prevailing discomfort. Skelton, though, with elaborate ease, promised to find out from Lewis and let her know. Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Blair took any part in the discussion, and they altogether ignored Lewis’s existence. All the ingenuity in the world could not have devised anything more galling to Skelton.