He thought that Frank was very ill-used in being put off with so incomplete a stud, and thinking also that the son had not spirit enough to attack his father himself on the subject, the Honourable John determined to do it for him.
"He's the making of a very nice horse, I don't doubt.

I wish you had a string like him, Frank." Frank felt the blood rush to his face.

He would not for worlds have his father think that he was discontented, or otherwise than pleased with the present he had received that morning.

He was heartily ashamed of himself in that he had listened with a certain degree of complacency to his cousin's tempting; but he had no idea that the subject would be repeated--and then repeated, too, before his father, in a manner to vex him on such a day as this, before such people as were assembled there.

He was very angry with his cousin, and for a moment forgot all his hereditary respect for a de Courcy.
"I tell you what, John," said he, "do you choose your day, some day early in the season, and come out on the best thing you have, and I'll bring, not the black horse, but my old mare; and then do you try and keep near me.