Page 63 (2/2)

chin tentatively, and fell again to staring lazily up into the

sky "Do you happen to know anything about thatthemselves 'Bucks,' or

'Corinthians'?" he inquired, after a while

"Very little," said I, "and that, only by hearsay"

"Well, up to six o, I was one of them, Mr Vibart, until

Fortune, and I think noisely, decreed it otherwise" And

herewith, lying upon his back, looking up through the quivering

green of leaves, he told mad tales of a reckless Prince, of the

placid Bru" Vibart, the brilliant Sheridan,

of Fox, and Grattan, and many others, whose names are now a byword

one way or the other He recounted a story of wild prodigality,

of drunken hts over the cards,

of wine, women, and horses But, lastly and very reverently, he

spoke of a woman, of her love, and faith, and deathless trust

"Of course," he ended, "I ht have starved very comfortably,

and much quicker, in London, but when reen hedge, or in the shelter of some

friendly rick, with the cool, clean wind upon my face Besides--

She loved the country"