Quite a commotion had been made there, for the larger portion of those buildings had of late years seldom been used.

But now all was crowding and activity.
Seven or eight very precious animals had followed Lord Lufton from Leicestershire, and all of them required dimensions that were thought to be rather excessive by the Framley old-fashioned groom.

My lord, however, had a head man of his own who took the matter quite into his own hands.

Mark, priest as he was, was quite worldly enough to be fond of a good horse; and for some little time allowed Lord Lufton to descant on the merit of this four-year-old filly, and that magnificent Rattlebones colt, out of a Mousetrap mare; but he had other things that lay heavy on his mind, and after bestowing half an hour on the stud, he contrived to get his friend away to the shrubbery walks.
"So you have settled with Sowerby," Robarts began by saying.
"Settled with him; yes, but do you know the price ?" "I believe that you have paid five thousand pounds." "Yes, and about three before; and that in a matter in which I did not really owe one shilling.

Whatever I do in future, I'll keep out of Sowerby's grip." "But you don't think he has been unfair to you." "Mark, to tell you the truth I have banished the affair from my mind, and don't wish to take it up again.