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which he carried away with the feeble Anchises。
In the centre of the room； lightly brandishing the piston…rod of a
steam…engine； stood Guy Heavystone alone。 I say alone； for the pile of
small boys on the floor in the corner could hardly be called company。
I will try and sketch him for the reader。 Guy Heavystone was then only
fifteen。 His broad； deep chest； his sinewy and quivering flank； his straight
pastern； showed him to be a thoroughbred。 Perhaps he was a trifle heavy
in the fetlock； but he held his head haughtily erect。 His eyes were
glittering but pitiless。 There was a sternness about the lower part of his
face；the old Heavystone look；a sternness； heightened； perhaps； by the
snaffle…bit which； in one of his strange freaks； he wore in his mouth to
curb his occasional ferocity。 His dress was well adapted to his square…set
and herculean frame。 A striped knit undershirt； close…fitting striped tights；
and a few spangles set off his figure； a neat Glengarry cap adorned his
head。 On it was displayed the Heavystone crest； a cock regardant on a
dunghill or； and the motto； 〃Devil a better！〃
I thought of Horatius on the bridge； of Hector before the walls。 I
always make it a point to think of something classical at such times。
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He saw me； and his sternness partly relaxed。 Something like a smile
struggled through his grim lineaments。 It was like looking on the Jungfrau
after having seen Mont Blanc；a trifle； only a trifle less sublime and awful。
Resting his hand lightly on the shoulder of the head…master； who
shuddered and collapsed under his touch； he strode toward me。
His walk was peculiar。 You could not call it a stride。 It was like the
〃crest…tossing Bellerophon；〃a kind of prancing gait。 Guy Heavystone
pranced toward me。
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CHAPTER II。
〃Lord Lovel he stood at the garden gate； A…combing his milk…white
steed。〃
It was the winter of 186… when I next met Guy Heavystone。 He had
left the University and had entered the 76th 〃Heavies。〃 〃I have exchanged
the gown for the sword； you see；〃 he said； grasping my hand； and
fracturing the bones of my little finger； as he shook it。
I gazed at him with unmixed admiration。 He was squarer； sterner； and
in every way smarter and more remarkable than ever。 I began to feel
toward this man as Phalaster felt towards Phyrgino； as somebody must
have felt toward Archididasculus； as Boswell felt toward Johnson。
〃Come into my den；〃 he said； and lifting me gently by the seat of my
pantaloons he carried me up stairs and deposited me； before I could
apologize； on the sofa。 I looked around the room。 It was a bachelor's
apartment； characteristically furnished in the taste of the proprietor。 A few
claymores and battle…axes were ranged against the wall； and a culverin；
captured by Sir Ralph Heavystone； occupied the corner； the other end of
the room being taken up by a light battery。 Foils； boxing…gloves； saddles；
and fishing…poles lay around carelessly。 A small pile of billets…doux lay
upon a silver salver。 The man was not an anchorite； nor yet a Sir Galahad。
I never could tell what Guy thought of women。 〃Poor little beasts；〃 he
would often say when the conversation turned on any of his fresh
conquests。 Then； passing his hand over his marble brow； the old look of
stern fixedness of purpose and unflinching severity would straighten the
lines of his mouth； and he would mutter； half to himself； 〃S'death！〃
〃Come with me to Heavystone Grange。 The Exmoor Hounds throw off
to…morrow。 I'll give you a mount；〃 he said； as he amused himself by rolling
up a silver candlestick between his fingers。 〃You shall have Cleopatra。 But
stay；〃 he added； thoughtfully； 〃now I remember； I ordered Cleopatra to be
shot this morning。〃
〃And why？〃 I queried。
〃She threw her rider yesterday and fell on him〃
〃And killed him？〃
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〃No。 That's the reason why I have ordered her to be shot。 I keep no
animals that are not dangerousI should addDEADLY！〃 He hissed the
last sentence between his teeth； and a gloomy frown descended over his
calm brow。
I affected to turn over the tradesman's bills that lay on the table； for；
like all of the Heavystone race； Guy seldom paid cash； and said：
〃You remind me of the time when Leonidas〃
〃O； bother Leonidas and your classical allusions。 Come！〃
We descended to dinner。
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CHAPTER III。
〃He carries weight； he rides a race； 'Tis for a thousand pound。〃
〃There is Flora Billingsgate； the greatest coquette and hardest rider in
the country；〃 said my companion； Ralph Mortmain； as we stood upon
Dingleby Common before the meet。
I looked up and beheld Guy Heavystone bending haughtily over the
saddle； as he addressed a beautiful brunette。 She was indeed a splendidly
groomed and high…spirited woman。 We were near enough to overhear the
following conversation； which any high…toned reader will recognize as the
common and natural expression of the higher classes。
〃When Diana takes the field the chase is not wholly confined to
objects ferae naturae；〃 said Guy； darting a significant glance at his
companion。 Flora did not shrink either from the glance or the meaning
implied in the sarcasm。
〃If I were looking for an Endymion； now〃 she said archly； as she
playfully cantered over a few hounds and leaped a five…barred gate。
Guy whispered a few words； inaudible to the rest of the party； and；
curvetting slightly； cleverly cleared two of the huntsmen in a flying leap；
galloped up the front steps of the mansion； and dashing at full speed
through the hall leaped through the drawing… room window and rejoined
me； languidly； on the lawn。
〃Be careful of Flora Billingsgate；〃 he said to me； in low stern tones；