I shall claim his best beast, the moment he gets one without a broken wind." As the Major spoke, he got out at his own door with all his wonted alacrity; but instead of offering me his hand, as he always had done in London, he skipped up his nine steps, on purpose (as I saw) that somebody else might come down for me.

And this was Sir Montague Hockin, as I feared was only too likely from what had been said.

If I had even suspected that this gentleman was at Bruntlands, I would have done my utmost to stay where I was, in spite of all absence of money.

Betsy would gladly have allowed me to remain, without paying even a farthing, until it should become convenient.

Pride had forbidden me to speak of this; but I would have got over that pride much rather than meet this Sir Montague Hockin thus.