"By Jove, this is grand! Won't there be a double distilled surprise for 'em all. If he can get home—if? He must!—and ride, wounds or no wounds—and he'll win, I can see him doing it—what a day it will be! Not a word, not me; I wouldn't miss the shock of his appearance on the course, in an unexpected way, not for a thousand."
"Fred's a bit above himself," said Abel Head. "He's confounded cheeky because his opinion has turned out correct. I never thought Captain Chesney was shot, did you?"
"No," said Tom Thrush, "not likely."
"And Fred takes it all on himself. He goes about with his 'What did I tell you?' until I'm sick of hearing it," said Abel.
"The main thing is, the master's alive; nowt else matters," said Tom.
"Heard from Jane lately?" asked Abel.
"No; can't make it out," said Tom gloomily.
"I hope it's all right with her. You were a fool to let her marry him," said Abel.
"What's the sense in pitching that into me now?" growled Tom.
"I pitched it into you before it was too late, but you took no notice."