"I shall have much pleasure in granting it, if I can," she replied, with a smile.
"Will you lend me Random to mount him on?" he asked.
"I shall be delighted," she replied. Then she wondered what Warren would say, as he would be sure to inquire where the horse was. She could tell him she had lent him to Eli for a friend to ride, as she did not intend to hunt that day, but merely to be at the breakfast at Hazelwell.
"You can take him back with you now; one of the grooms can ride over," she said.
Eli was delighted at the success of his plan, and as he looked at Random in his box, said—
"You will be surprised to have your old master on your back, but I expect you will know him again."
Ulick arrived at the Hazelwell stud farm, and Eli greeted him heartily.
"Something tells me you will not leave us again," he said.
"You are wrong, Eli; I cannot go to Hazelwell yet, not until——" he hesitated.
"Not until what?" asked Eli.