There my seamanship made me necessary.

But since no one thought of sailing towards the lough mouth, but only across or up towards Rathmullan, there was no chance of my defying his honour's regulations that way.
For a week or two even my mother's message was driven from my head by hatred of my rival, the new groom--a villainous-looking rascal, some years my elder, who yet had not even the merit of being a good horseman to commend him.
Rightly or wrongly, I suspected that part of his business was to keep a watch on me.

And if anything could determine me to defiance that was enough.

As to Miss Kit, I humbly hoped she liked the change as little as I; for since her liberty was cut off from one road, and her new lackey had neither looks nor conversation to commend him, her love of riding gradually flagged, and presently Martin--that was the fellow's name--had to lead out her riderless horse for exercise.
The trying thing to me was that Martin would not even do me the compliment of recognising me as his enemy.

It was not for lack of invitation, nor was it owing to cowardice.